cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.
cheated me out of a dollar
cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.
always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars
defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.
defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer
swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.
swindled of their savings by con artists
Example Sentences
They were accused of trying to defraud the public. They conspired to defraud the government. She was convicted of writing bad checks with intent to defraud.
Recent Examples on the WebFigueroa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Drug Administration, falsifying records in an FDA investigation, obstructing proceedings before the FDA and distributing altered drugs. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Sabine Coll Boghici, 48, plotted to defraud Genevieve Boghici, 82, out of art, jewelry and money worth around 724 million reais, or $142.42 million, police in Rio de Janeiro said in a statement. Reuters, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2022 The committee has provided details that could be grounds for charges of conspiracy to defraud the American people, falsifying documents and obstructing an official proceeding of Congress. Luke Broadwater, BostonGlobe.com, 13 July 2022 On Tuesday, a federal jury found Todd and Julie guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kelly Wynne, PEOPLE.com, 8 June 2022 The admission came in the form of a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, commit wire fraud and violate the Clean Air Act, through Christopher Pardi, general counsel for FCA US LLC. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 3 June 2022 For years, government and industry officials have known that a small group of relatively obscure telecom providers act as a conduit for millions of scam calls that annoy—and sometimes defraud—Americans. Ryan Tracy, WSJ, 19 May 2022 Weaver pulled off a similar scheme to defraud the Arizona Department of Economic Security, obtaining $27,230 in fraudulent benefits from that state’s unemployment agency, according to the indictment. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2022 But how did the faux socialite scam bankers and defraud Manhattan's elite (as Gossip Girl might wonder)? Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Feb. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French defrauder, from Latin defraudare, from de- + fraudare to cheat, from fraud-, fraus fraud