swindle 1 of 2

Definition of swindlenext

swindle

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swindle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swindle are cheat, cozen, and defraud. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

When would cheat be a good substitute for swindle?

The words cheat and swindle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When might cozen be a better fit than swindle?

The synonyms cozen and swindle are sometimes interchangeable, but cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

When could defraud be used to replace swindle?

The meanings of defraud and swindle largely overlap; however, defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

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 swindle
Noun
The alleged ringleader of the scam, Kira Milany Romero Pinto, 40, of Lake Elmo, is now facing a felony racketeering charge and 11 felony counts of theft by swindle in Washington County District Court. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025 But cybersecurity experts believe many are coming from the same criminal organizations in Southeast Asia that have been linked to other high-profile swindles in recent years, like romance scams on dating apps. Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
An Alpharetta man pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of wire fraud in connection with an investment and fake University of Georgia ticket scheme that prosecutors said swindled people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. David Aaro, AJC.com, 16 Jan. 2026 Caroline is a sheltered West Texas woman who falls for Oliver (Gallner) after witnessing the cool conman swindle her boss at a filling station. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swindle
Noun
  • Why this message is designed to scare This scam relies on presentation, not accuracy.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • News of the potential scam comes as the Louvre continues to deal with the fallout of the October 2025 broad-daylight theft of $120 million worth of crown jewels, which remain unrecovered.
    News Desk, Artforum, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Among the reasons Belichick was not inducted are his involvement in cheating scandals, such as Spygate and Deflategate, according to ESPN.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Sometimes, producers work with players to squeeze their take into the allotted time.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In the days following a second consecutive season without making the playoffs, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, in a walk-off interview with local reporters after the final news conference of the season, admitted that the loss of one player stung significantly.
    Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Steve died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray at the Batt Reef off the coast of Australia.
    Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Over at Azur on Luminara, the menu reinvents itself every two days to mirror the port of call, like someone plucked the best taverna dishes off the coast and casually plated them in front of you.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This is ideal for decades of sliding across the ice, because bigger mineral grains are more likely to get plucked out by the ice, leaving holes in the surface that could cause unpredictable behavior.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As the lights came up, Taylor had already been hustled out, as had Arnaud.
    Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Compared to the behemoth Acela, which hustles hundreds of thousands of riders between Boston, New York City, and Washington DC each month, Amtrak's Mardi Gras line is downright petite—just two 58-seat coaches, plus a café car and a 14-seat Business Class car.
    Kara Newman, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The three men were convicted on charges of bribery, conspiracy to defraud the Crown and the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and violations of the Proceeds of Crime Ordinance.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Rivers was arrested on Wednesday and is being held in the Main Jail without bond on charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft of more than $100,000 and money laundering.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Is someone attempting to deceive you?
    Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Your eyes aren't deceiving you.
    Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swindle. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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