swin·dle

   [swin-dl] Show IPA verb, -dled, -dling,noun

verb (used with object)

1.

to cheat (a person, business, etc.) out of money or other assets.

2.

to obtain by fraud or deceit.verb (used without object)

3.

to put forward plausible schemes or use unscrupulous trickery to defraud others; cheat.noun

4.

an act of swindling or a fraudulent transaction or scheme.

5.

anything deceptive; a fraud: This advertisement is a real swindle.

Origin: 1775–85; back formation from swindler < German Schwindler irresponsible person, promoter of wildcat schemes, cheat,derivative of schwindeln to be dizzy (hence dizzy-minded,irresponsible), defraud, equivalent to schwind- (akin to OldEnglish swindan to languish) + -( e ) l- -le + -er -er¹

Related forms

swin·dle·a·ble, adjective

swin·dler, noun

swin·dling·ly, adverb

out·swin·dle, verb (used with object), -dled, -dling.

Synonyms 1. cozen, dupe, trick, gull.