conned

[kond]

adjective

1. relating to, or being the victim of, a swindle, scam, or trick.

   Most of these schemes play off the conned person's greed and vice.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of con.

Word History and Origins

Origin of conned¹

First recorded in 1975–80; con ² ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; con ² ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

A Kent couple have described their "terrifying" experience being conned out of nearly £30,000 by scammers who impersonated police.

Read more on BBC

A woman conned out of tens of thousands of pounds by scammers who posed as Hollywood actor Jason Momoa says she was left feeling "ripped to bits".

Read more on BBC

A builder who conned £86,000 from elderly and vulnerable people has been described as "absolute scum" by one of his victims.

Read more on BBC

Scam victims in Southeast and East Asia alone were conned out of up to $37 billion in 2023, according to a UN report, which said global losses were likely "much larger".

Read more on Barron's

The result is palpable: There’s no longer an electoral base in the West wiling to be conned out of additional trillions for climate change.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal