con

22 synonyms and 1 antonym for con, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

trick learn

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

scam hoax convict inmate hustle

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

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Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money.

“The free holiday offer was just a con to get her bank details.”

swindle scam trick hoax dupe hoodwink flimflam convict bunco inmate bunko hustle

Opposites

pro

2. verb

To trick or cheat someone, typically for personal gain.

“Don't let anyone con you into paying for a service you never ordered.”

learn diddle defraud memorise goldbrick mulct hornswoggle nobble memorize bunco rook scam

How to use con

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pull a con con artist pros and cons sci-fi con

Etymology

The "trick" and "convict" senses are shortened forms of confidence (as in "confidence trick") and convict. The older verb sense meaning "to study closely" comes from Old English cunnan, "to know" — the same root as "can."

Full origin of con →

Frequently asked questions

What does “con” mean?

The word “con” means a dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money. In plain terms, most commonly, either a scam meant to cheat someone, or the downside of something (as in "pros and cons"); also slang for a convict or a fan convention.

How do you pronounce “con”?

“Con” is pronounced kon (/kɑn/ in IPA).

How do you use “con” in a sentence?

Here is “con” used in a sentence: “The whole investment offer turned out to be a con.”

What is the opposite of “con”?

The opposite of “con” — its antonyms — is pro.

What part of speech is “con”?

Depending on how it is used, “con” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “con” come from?

The word “con” comes from Old English.

Is “con” a common word?

“Con” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “con” have?

“Con” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money.

What is the difference between a "con" and a "scam"?

A con and a scam both describe dishonest schemes designed to trick people out of money, and the words are often interchangeable. "Con" is short for "confidence trick" and stresses gaining the victim's trust first, while "scam" is a broader, more general term for any fraudulent scheme.

When should you use "con" instead of "defraud"?

"Con" is informal and conversational, suited to everyday speech like "they conned him out of his savings." "Defraud" is formal and often legal, used in contracts, reports, and court settings where precise, serious language is expected.

People also searched

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Nearby words

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