Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cozen contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cozen are cheat, defraud, and swindle. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

Where would cheat be a reasonable alternative to cozen?

The words cheat and cozen can be used in similar contexts, but cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When would defraud be a good substitute for cozen?

In some situations, the words defraud and cozen are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When can swindle be used instead of cozen?

While in some cases nearly identical to cozen, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cozen The point, however, is not to entertain the driver/employee but to cozen the owner. Dan Neil, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cozen
Verb
  • But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it.
    Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There's a problem these players aren't punished enough for cheating.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
  • And right when they're embroiled in the ensuing messy separation, new DNA evidence surfaces in Adam's case, the woman Bob cheated with turns up missing, and just like that, Sarah's back in the spotlight.
    Lizz Schumer, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Then, as if anyone was fooled, the talk show host pulled off his hat, wig and snap-on nose and lip piercings and Sheeran pulled of his wig to reveal his signature carrot top to shouts of joy.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
  • But don't let the name fool you, Murderbot isn't actually the frightening story of a dangerous security robot.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Each piece at the Vogue Vintage Market comes with a backstory—whether it’s been plucked from the runway, worn by a cultural icon, or handpicked by one of Vogue’s closest friends.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The actual smell of violet petals isn’t the result of plucking the flower to extract the fragrance.
    Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Be Wary of Phishing Emails and Texts After a breach, scammers may impersonate the affected company to trick you into clicking malicious links.
    Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • She was tricked by the very devilish Zeus, who broke his way into many marriages.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Hit the ball too far up the handle, or off the end of the head, and the bat will flex and vibrate, transferring less energy to the ball and stinging the batter’s hands.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Pets who have an encounter with stinging caterpillars will need a vet visit ASAP.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For years, researchers have been experimenting with quantization techniques that squeeze their neural network weights into smaller memory envelopes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Consumer confidence has taken a nosedive in 2025 as Americans grow more concerned that inflation could spike again, and tariffs will squeeze their wallets.
    Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And, much like their Trust counterparts, Book’s lobbying staff hustles, often literally, to keep up with their boss.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Houston dominated the boards and recorded an impressive 11 steals as the Cougars hustled to the very end.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cozen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cozen. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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