fraud

noun

ˈfrȯd How to pronounce fraud (audio)
Definition of fraudnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fraud different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of fraud are counterfeit, fake, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When could counterfeit be used to replace fraud?

The words counterfeit and fraud can be used in similar contexts, but counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When can fake be used instead of fraud?

The words fake and fraud are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When would humbug be a good substitute for fraud?

The meanings of humbug and fraud largely overlap; however, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When might imposture be a better fit than fraud?

While in some cases nearly identical to fraud, imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

In what contexts can sham take the place of fraud?

Although the words sham and fraud have much in common, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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 There are two types of scumbag in the cybercrime world: those who pick on vulnerable individuals to perpetrate their fraud, and those who target healthcare in search of illicit financial gains. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 That took generations of struggle by ordinary citizens who didn’t think that monopolies, pollution, bank fraud, stock fraud, racial bias, extreme economic inequality and unsafe products and workplaces had to be the price of progress. —Mark Green, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025 Last month, the government of South Korea, where A is from, admitted that its adoption agencies engaged in fraud or malpractice to keep up with demand, including not properly vetting prospective parents. —Juliana Kim, NPR, 19 Apr. 2025 Among the suspects arrested in a March 31 telecom fraud raid in the Chinese ally's capital of Phnom Penh, around 180 were Taiwanese, according to Taipei. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fraud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraud
  1. scam
  2. fake
  3. deception
  4. sham
  5. deceit
  6. pretender
  7. charlatan
  8. cunning
Noun
  • And just as with banking scams and law enforcement scams, keep in mind that any such proactive approach is a scam.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Aura Cost Plans from $9 to $25 per month, billed annually Standout features Protects against identity theft, financial fraud, spam calls, online theft, scam websites, viruses and malware.
    — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of scam
Noun
  • White has a knack to get to the foul line with creative fakes.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Historically, trade restrictions drive up the cost of authentic goods, creating the perfect conditions for counterfeiters to flood the market with cheaper, harder-to-detect fakes, according to Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Entrupy, an authentication service.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of fake
Noun
  • The Erosion Of Trust Through Inconsistent Words Many people associate the breakdown of trust with major betrayals like infidelity or deception.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Warrantless search and seizure, deception, untrammeled use of force.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of deception
Noun
  • There are plenty of superhero properties out there that fall into the trap of having their antagonists do something heinous to prove that their otherwise just reasons are a sham, but surely in this case, if Maximus (Iwan Rheon) hadn’t staged a coup, another of the Inhuman subjects would’ve. 23.
    — Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The sunny set includes a quilt in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king sizes and matching shams to create a cohesive look in your space.
    — Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of sham
Noun
  • Defense attorney Alan Jackson told the jury the collision never happened, and the investigation into Read was riddled with errors, bias, incompetence and deceit from the start.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In economic markets, maintaining a consumer’s freedom of choice requires regulations against coercion and deceit.
    — Michael Gregory, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of deceit
Noun
  • The speed with which this group develops chemistry and finds that star could determine where the Crimson Tide fall on the spectrum between contender and pretender.
    — CJ Moore, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Carter noted that City Hall office workers will return to their cubicles three days per week as of April 1. Related Articles Contenders or pretenders?
    — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of pretender
Noun
  • Death at the hands of charlatans is not an inspiring storyline, which means publishers and film studios studiously avoid it.
    — Alan Levinovitz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The danger isn’t liars and charlatans.
    — Alan Levinovitz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of charlatan
Noun
  • Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Noted for his tenacity and cunning, Khamenei is also a man of conviction, and his hatred for the United States is deeply felt.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of cunning

Browse Nearby Words

fratricides
fraud
frauds
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Cite this Entry

“Fraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraud. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fraud

Nglish: Translation of fraud for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fraud

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