swindle

American  

[swin-dl] / ˈswɪn 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.

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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 British  

/ ˈswɪndəl /

verb

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

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

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noun

1. a fraudulent scheme or transaction

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of swindle

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

Example Sentences

And while they concede that seniors may be more frequently targeted online than those younger, that, too, is based on a false assumption—that their age will make them easier to swindle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

“Ah, this odious swindle, human life,” he swore, after his daughter Jean endured a major epileptic seizure.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said criminals will constantly change how they present scams to lure people in and swindle them.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2024

That fuelled speculation in Zambian media that some of the suspects might have sought to swindle gold buyers in a fake bullion scam.

From Reuters • Aug. 30, 2023

He was filled with embarrassment: embarrassment for the human race, its preoccupation with money, its love of swindle.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

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