swindle

[ swin-dl ]

verb (used with object)

, swin·dled, swin·dling.

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)

, swin·dled, swin·dling.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈswindler, noun

Other Words From

• swin·dle·a·ble adjective
• swin·dler noun
• swin·dling·ly adverb
• out·swin·dle verb (used with object) outswindled outswindling

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

The former chief financial officer at Tom Girardi’s law firm agreed on Tuesday to plead guilty to federal fraud charges, acknowledging that he and Girardi worked side-by-side to swindle clients out of millions in settlement money.

From Los Angeles Times

The revelation came this week in the trial of Girardi, 84, who is defending against four counts of wire fraud and is accused of perpetrating a decade-long scheme to swindle his clients out of more than $15 million in settlement funds.

From Los Angeles Times

So far, crypto hasn’t advanced the cause of innovation other than giving drug lords and criminal gangs a new way to ply their trades and swindle their marks.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2007, a Canadian judge ruled that Felderhof had been unaware of the swindle and found him not guilty of insider trading.

From BBC

I quickly prayed that my master wouldn’t swindle the ogre and get himself yet another death warrant.

From Literature

Related Words

• deceit
• deception
• extortion
• hoax
• racket
• ripoff
• scam