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 The longtime couple were previously convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud in 2022 before reporting to prison in January 2023. —Dory Jackson, People.com, 27 May 2025 Donald Trump has shared his plans to issue full pardons to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were serving years-long prison sentences after being convicted of federal bank fraud and tax evasion charges. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025 He was also charged with mail fraud in 1983 and was accused of aggravated rape. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025 Those who need these funds and those who foot the bill are tied for justifiable anger at such fraud. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 25 May 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
  • Vague delivery details could signal a scam Here's how the scam works, according to the BBB: Need a break?
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • Thankfully, all the scam spam doesn’t seem to have killed anyone’s appetite for the grift as a genre.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Definition of scam
Noun
  • People will either fall for fakes—or doubt the truth.
    — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • When the computer was seized, in November, creating digital fakes was not yet considered a crime.
    — Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Definition of fake
Noun
  • But these seductions or deceptions are canceled when the work confronts us with the photographic records of the performative procedure itself—and not only by making the photograph an integral component, the dialectical complement to the material sculptural production.
    — Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • He’s got some deception on the puck and does a good job holding onto it to wait for secondary options to open up, but slows the game down too much.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of deception
Noun
  • Pottery Barn Outlet Bedding Deals There are plenty of deals on comfortable quilts, cozy comforters, and shams in the Pottery Barn bedding sale section.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025
  • Quince often has Bundle & Save offers for up to 25% off select clothing and bedding sets with hotel-quality sheets, duvets, and shams.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 20 May 2025
Definition of sham
Noun
  • None of these spring explorations of sisterly deceit and self-deception has been able to surpass Apple TV+’s Bad Sisters as the recent genre peak.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
  • Starring Tom Cruise, the movies are loaded with action, deceit and globe-spanning adventures – everything a good spy film should be.
    — Keith Langston, People.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of deceit
Noun
  • But for those trying to fill out their brackets this week, here are the Big Ten’s contenders and pretenders heading into March Madness.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
  • That’s where discipline separates professionals from pretenders.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of pretender
Noun
  • Trying to keep the population safe from a novel infectious disease, battling to understand the virus, but also navigating people's suspicion of vaccines and science, and their desire to use bleach and ivermectin, egged on by charlatans.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
  • For them, the Nazarene is not a charlatan, but an upright man, one who has courage, who speaks well and says the right things, like other great prophets in the history of Israel.
    — Daniel Burke, NPR, 9 May 2025
Definition of charlatan
Noun
  • On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.
    — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
  • But Waltz also advocated for further diplomatically isolating President Vladimir Putin — a position that was out of step with Trump, who has viewed the Russian leader, at moments, with admiration for his cunning in dealings with Trump’s predecessors.
    — Matthew Lee, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 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 11 Jun. 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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