1
as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
thousands of people lost money when the investment scheme turned out to be a fraud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in fake
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
the "blind" panhandler was just a fraud trying to con holiday shoppers out of their money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
charges that he had gained control of his elderly mother's estate by fraud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fraud
Florida ranks third in overall internet fraud complaints, as well as third in money lost, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2025 annual report.
—
Ella Moore
july 2,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The Department of Justice named the MFCUs in both Hawaii and New York as prosecutorial partners in a news release about a national Medicaid fraud takedown last week.
—
Ali Swenson,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
Traditional finance already collects vast amounts of identity and transaction data, but money laundering and fraud persist at scale.
—
Susie Violet Ward,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
By establishing minimum federal standards and regulations for private benefit plans, the law aimed to protect workers’ pensions from fraud and mismanagement.
—
Miranda Yaver,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for fraud
Ella Moore
july 2,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The Department of Justice named the MFCUs in both Hawaii and New York as prosecutorial partners in a news release about a national Medicaid fraud takedown last week.
—
Ali Swenson,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
Traditional finance already collects vast amounts of identity and transaction data, but money laundering and fraud persist at scale.
—
Susie Violet Ward,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
By establishing minimum federal standards and regulations for private benefit plans, the law aimed to protect workers’ pensions from fraud and mismanagement.
—
Miranda Yaver,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for fraud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraud
Noun
-
As cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated tactics and AI makes phishing attempts, impersonation scams and other attacks harder to spot, organizations can’t rely on annual compliance training alone.
-
Always compare multiple firms before making a decision because tax relief scams do exist.
Noun
-
And what happens to someone who’s been outed like that, as a fake?
-
The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services has warned that people can easily obtain fakes; in 2010, Puerto Rico invalidated all its existing birth certificates, citing rampant fraud and identity theft.
Noun
-
Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
-
By the time the deception was uncovered, the employee had authorized $25 million in transfers.
Noun
-
Both the duvet cover and shams have a sateen finish, and an ultra-soft, lived-in feel.
-
Kristjánsson pointed out that the whole thing was kind of a sham.
Noun
-
The original trial was found to be invalid due to fraud and deceit.
-
And with that comes deceit and manipulation.
Noun
-
To add to the challenge, Brady also left his mark on the latest pretender to his crown.
-
Dogs can tell the difference between an actual alpha and a pretender.
Noun
-
Researchers say this kind of chatbot cheating is common, increasing, and a significant warning sign.
-
Throughout her time on the show, Batula experienced the ups and downs of her relationship with Cooke, which included multiple cheating allegations on his part.
Noun
-
Others estimate that $500 billion in federal spending is diverted by charlatans each year.
-
To this day, a portion of the left-wing Democratic elite views Obama as a charlatan who hoodwinked their voters into supporting him.
Cite this Entry
“Fraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraud. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
