fraud

noun

ˈfrȯd How to pronounce fraud (audio)
Definition of fraudnext
1
as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value thousands of people lost money when the investment scheme turned out to be a fraud

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in fake
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise the "blind" panhandler was just a fraud trying to con holiday shoppers out of their money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery charges that he had gained control of his elderly mother's estate by fraud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fraud different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of fraud are counterfeit, fake, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When could counterfeit be used to replace fraud?

The words counterfeit and fraud can be used in similar contexts, but counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When can fake be used instead of fraud?

The words fake and fraud are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When would humbug be a good substitute for fraud?

The meanings of humbug and fraud largely overlap; however, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When might imposture be a better fit than fraud?

While in some cases nearly identical to fraud, imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

In what contexts can sham take the place of fraud?

Although the words sham and fraud have much in common, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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 fraud Mark Krikorian, executive director of the right-leaning Center for Immigration Studies said casting a wider net, in search of fraud or misrepresentations, makes sense. —Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025 The audit process will also include interviews for fraud risk and review of the foundations’ alignment with board policies and the Civic Center Act regarding facilities rentals. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025 Indigenous people urged to carry their documentation Operation Rainbow Bridge, a nonprofit that supports Navajo citizens who are victims of Medicaid fraud in Arizona, has launched the Immigration Crisis Initiative to assist Indigenous people impacted by federal law enforcement raids. —Alaa Elassar, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025 But this would come as the result of a cutback in government spending that is currently categorized by Trump Administration officials as either waste, fraud, or non-essential in nature. —Sal Gilbertie, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fraud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraud
  1. scam
  2. fake
  3. deception
  4. sham
  5. deceit
  6. pretender
  7. charlatan
  8. cunning
Noun
  • Common cyber threats in healthcare include: • Phishing scams involve sending seemingly harmless emails that trick someone into revealing sensitive data.
    — FNU Anupama, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Following his arrest, Belfort pled guilty, agreeing to pay back $110 million to the victims of his scams.
    — Erica Marrison, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of scam
Noun
  • White has a knack to get to the foul line with creative fakes.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Historically, trade restrictions drive up the cost of authentic goods, creating the perfect conditions for counterfeiters to flood the market with cheaper, harder-to-detect fakes, according to Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Entrupy, an authentication service.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of fake
Noun
  • In another case, Balmer pleaded guilty in 2016 to forgery and theft by deception charges, court documents show.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Imposter syndrome is an internal struggle with feeling like a fraud despite being qualified, whereas career catfishing is an active deception.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of deception
Noun
  • There are plenty of superhero properties out there that fall into the trap of having their antagonists do something heinous to prove that their otherwise just reasons are a sham, but surely in this case, if Maximus (Iwan Rheon) hadn’t staged a coup, another of the Inhuman subjects would’ve. 23.
    — Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The sunny set includes a quilt in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king sizes and matching shams to create a cohesive look in your space.
    — Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of sham
Noun
  • The deceit and deception is positively intoxicating to this longtime reality competition fan.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The campaign registers domains that are close enough to legitimate websites to trick users into clicking, or at least to stop them flagging the deceit.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of deceit
Noun
  • Every decision carries weight, and in a league where the line between contender and pretender is razor-thin, there’s little room for error.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The only saving grace for City is that there is no clear pretender to take its place as the top dog in English soccer.
    — Joe Prince-Wright, NBC Sports, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of pretender
Noun
  • Death at the hands of charlatans is not an inspiring storyline, which means publishers and film studios studiously avoid it.
    — Alan Levinovitz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The danger isn’t liars and charlatans.
    — Alan Levinovitz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of charlatan
Noun
  • Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Noted for his tenacity and cunning, Khamenei is also a man of conviction, and his hatred for the United States is deeply felt.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of cunning

Browse Nearby Words

fratricides
fraud
frauds
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Cite this Entry

“Fraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraud. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fraud

Nglish: Translation of fraud for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fraud

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