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 Southeast Asia has become a global epicenter of cyber scams, where high-tech fraud meets human trafficking. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 14 July 2025 But greed and fraud can also arise daily, from phishing emails to online scams. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 13 July 2025 Cuevas, a former state representative, resigned from the legislature in 2016 after the bank fraud charge. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025 The three-term Texas Attorney General was reelected despite being under felony indictment for securities fraud. —Riley Beggin, USA Today, 12 July 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
  • Less than halfway through 2025, eight similar scams have cost victims more than $256,000.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 10 July 2025
  • But the incident is the latest high-profile example of how easy—and alarmingly convincing—AI voice scams have become.
    — Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Definition of scam
Noun
  • In a market flooded with uniformity, a culture hellbent on sameness, and a luxury space increasingly shaped by dupes, secondhand finds, and super fakes, working with an artist can be a refreshing alternative, making the object feel less like a purchase and more like an heirloom.
    — Brett Braley, Robb Report, 18 June 2025
  • And not just shooting the shot, but using it to create space for my teammates or using a shot fake to create a different shot for myself or a drive to kick.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025
Definition of fake
Noun
  • This deception couldn’t come at a worse time for America’s debt.
    — Thomas Kahn, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
  • Unlike earlier studies that uncovered evasion or deception, this research exposed a more alarming phenomenon: models calculating that unethical behavior was a justifiable strategy for survival.
    — Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Definition of deception
Noun
  • All sets come with two matching pillow shams to complete your bedroom look.
    — Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
  • The basics that all comforter sets include are the comforter and one pillow sham, with some sets including an extra sham.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
Definition of sham
Noun
  • When confronted, deceit turns their romantic evening into a darkly comedic nightmare.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 June 2025
  • The nation has now paid a steep price for its deceit and deception.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 June 2025
Definition of deceit
Noun
  • Stars welcome these challenges while pretenders struggle with reality.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • What used to be a very niche field with only a small handful of offerings has become a cottage industry full of contenders and pretenders, and any number of startups offering a readymade conversion for your bike.
    — Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Wired News, 20 June 2025
Definition of pretender
Noun
  • Caricatured by Honoré Daumier and his lesser followers always as a mountebank, a charlatan, a circus clown, Louis Napoleon could normalize the extent of his outrages by the seeming harmlessness of his absurdities.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
  • Where to watch Saw: Amazon Prime Video (to rent) 03 of 10 Saw X (2023) John Kramer ventures to Mexico for an experimental cancer treatment administered by money-hungry charlatans in this slick but not particularly inventive revival sequel, which takes place between the events of Saw and Saw II.
    — Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 10 May 2025
Definition of charlatan
Noun
  • The chief specimen here (played by MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry) is a massive beast whose brute strength is matched by his cunning.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
  • 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
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 19 Jul. 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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