swindle

[swin-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.

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

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 problem was she was making plans not with “General Hospital” star Steve Burton, but with a scammer who intended not to romance her, but to swindle her.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He allegedly posed as the wealthy heir of a diamond mogul on dating app Tinder and swindled women into lending him large sums of money, which he never repaid.

Read more on BBC

Ms Vouzelaud, 38, then tried to explain to him that he had been swindled and the couple urged him to go to the police to file a complaint.

Read more on BBC

All the people who claimed to have been swindled by Mr Cavanagh said they had made complaints to Action Fraud.

Read more on BBC

It’s a pleasure to be so deftly swindled.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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