swindle

[swin-dl]

verb (used with object)

swindled, swindling 

1. to cheat (a person, business, etc.) out of money or other assets.

   Synonyms: bamboozle, deceive, trick, dupe, cozen

2. to obtain by fraud or deceit.

verb (used without object)

swindled, swindling 

1. to put forward plausible schemes or use unscrupulous trickery to defraud others; cheat.

noun

1. an act of swindling or a fraudulent transaction or scheme.

2. anything deceptive; a fraud.

   This advertisement is a real swindle.

swindle

/ ˈswɪndəl /

verb

1. to cheat (someone) of money, etc; defraud

2. (tr) to obtain (money, etc) by fraud

noun

1. a fraudulent scheme or transaction

Other Word Forms

• swindleable adjective
• swindler noun
• swindlingly adverb
• outswindle verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of swindle¹

First recorded in 1775–85; back formation from swindler ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of swindle¹

C18: back formation from German Schwindler, from schwindeln, from Old High German swintilōn, frequentative of swintan to disappear

Example Sentences

Ms Vouzelaud, 38, then tried to explain to him that he had been swindled and the couple urged him to go to the police to file a complaint.

From BBC

All the people who claimed to have been swindled by Mr Cavanagh said they had made complaints to Action Fraud.

From BBC

It’s a pleasure to be so deftly swindled.

From Los Angeles Times

Annie was later jailed for five years for swindling the shopkeepers.

From BBC

As the Times reports, the False Claims Act is “typically used to go after government contractors for swindling.”

From Salon

Related Words

• bilk 
• con 
• deceive 
• defraud 
• dupe 
• extort 
• fleece 
• gouge 
• hoodwink 
• overcharge 
• victimize