defraud
verb
de·fraud di-ˈfrȯd 
dē-
defrauded; defrauding; defrauds
transitive verb
: to deprive of something by deception or fraud
trying to defraud the public
Investors in the scheme were defrauded of their life savings.
defrauder
di-ˈfrȯ-dər
noun dē-
Synonyms
- beat
- bilk
- bleed
- cheat
- chisel
- chouse
- con
- cozen
- diddle
- do
- do in
- euchre
- fiddle
- fleece
- flimflam
- gaff
- hose [slang]
- hustle
- mulct
- nobble [British slang]
- pluck
- ream
- rip off
- rook
- screw
- shake down
- short
- shortchange
- skin
- skunk
- squeeze
- stick
- stiff
- sting
- sucker
- swindle
- thimblerig
- victimize
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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 Web Figueroa 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
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
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
defraud
verb
de·fraud di-ˈfrȯd
defrauded; defrauding
: to trick or cheat someone in order to get money They were accused of defrauding customers.
Legal Definition
defraud
transitive verb
de·fraud di-ˈfrȯd
: to deprive of something by fraud
defrauder
noun
as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value the state's department of consumer protection has to contend with defrauders of every ilk Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cheat
- dodger
- swindler
- shark
- fraudster
- chiseler
- scammer
- scamster
- cheater
- bilk
- bilker
- phony
- skinner
- sharper
- cozener
- confidence man
- chiseller
- trickster
- tricker
- sharpie
- ringer
- finagler
- hoaxer
- fox
- sharpy
- fakir
- adventurer
- sham
- fake
- impostor
- charlatan
- pretender
- mountebank
- rogue
- quack
- knave
- double-crosser
- faker
- double-dealer
- imposter
- gamesman
- sneak
- quacksalver
- bluffer
- rascal
- phoney
- schemer
- slickster
- cardsharp
- sneaker
- prankster
- blackleg
- plotter
- wheeler-dealer
- humbug
- cardsharper
- smoothie
- slyboots
- slick
- slicker
- fast-talker
- smoothy
