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

Eva Longoria stars as Gala, a woman who has to flee to the small Spanish town that her mother left decades ago in search of a future away from her swindling husband.

From Los Angeles Times

The following year, however, Violet and her mother were found guilty of swindling Violet’s ex-lover and their widowed neighbour.

From BBC

A building surveyor has been jailed for swindling the National Trust out of more than £1 million through false invoices.

From BBC

They wanted to be a voice for the pet owners swindled by Britton, most of whom are still too traumatised and guilt-ridden to speak out, as well as a visible symbol of the community’s horror.

From BBC

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

Related Words

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