swindler
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of swindler
First recorded in 1765–75; from German Schwindler “irresponsible person, promoter of wildcat schemes, cheat,” derivative of schwindeln “to be dizzy (hence be dizzy-minded, be irresponsible), defraud,” equivalent to schwind- (cognate with Old English swindan “to languish”) + -(e)l- + -er; cf. -le, -er 1 ( def. )
Explanation
If you know someone is a swindler, stay away from him. Swindlers are scammers who con people to make a buck. Unfortunately, there are many types of people in the world who will try to get your money. Somewhere between a used car salesman and an outright thief is a swindler — someone who lies to get your money, sometimes by suggesting you invest in something phony. Many people on the Internet asking for money are swindlers, and if anyone tries to sell you a bridge, that's likely another swindler. Swindlers are also called grifters, scammers, and con artists. The last person in the world you should give money to is a swindler.
Vocabulary lists containing swindler
The Jungle
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All My Sons
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The Boy Who Dared
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A convicted con artist who was the subject of a popular 2022 Netflix documentary, The Tinder Swindler, has been arrested in Georgia, local officials said.
From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025
Swindler added that Fischer had also reached a settlement agreement with Redstone Holdings.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024
From Anna Sorokin to "The Tinder Swindler" to Elizabeth Holmes, we love to hate those who refuse to follow the rules.
From Salon • May 5, 2022
Then over time — after like the first six months — it became like the Tinder Swindler.
From The Verge • May 3, 2022
Swindler number one takes the ball, examines it, and declares that it must be solid.
From The Secrets of the Great City by McCabe, James Dabney
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
