hoodwink

[ hood-wingk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to deceive or trick.

   Synonyms: gyp, swindle, cheat, dupe

2. Archaic. to blindfold.
3. Obsolete. to cover or hide.

hoodwink

/ ˈhʊdˌwɪŋk /

verb

1. to dupe; trick
2. obsolete.
   to cover or hide

Derived Forms

• ˈhoodˌwinker, noun

Other Words From

• hood·wink·a·ble adjective
• hood·wink·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoodwink¹

First recorded in 1555–65; hood ¹ + wink ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoodwink¹

C16: originally, to cover the eyes with a hood, blindfold

Example Sentences

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt has meanwhile accused Ms Reeves of an "utterly bogus attempt to hoodwink the public".

From BBC

In their first go-round in attacking Gov. Tim Walz, the Donald Trump campaign bet that maximum hyperbole could hoodwink people into dismissing the "chill dad" demeanor of Vice President Kamala Harris's new running mate.

From Salon

On the 9 May anniversary this year, a statement from its public relations wing said there would be no compromise with the “planners, facilitators and executioners” and nor would they be allowed to “hoodwink the law of the land”.

From BBC

“We’ll never know if this effort to hoodwink the American voter impacted the election, but that’s something we don’t need to prove.”

From Slate

The deliberations follow a marathon day of closing arguments in which a Manhattan prosecutor accused Trump of trying to “hoodwink” voters in the 2016 presidential election by participating in a hush money scheme meant to stifle embarrassing stories he feared would torpedo his campaign.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bamboozle
• bilk
• defraud
• dupe
• mislead
• swindle
• victimize