verb
swindle
SWIHNDL
Swindle (verb) means to cheat someone out of money or property through deception. Example: “He swindled elderly investors out of their savings.”
verb
1
To cheat someone out of money or property through deception.
"He swindled elderly investors out of their savings."
"She was swindled by a fake charity collector."
noun
1
A dishonest scheme designed to cheat people out of money.
"The whole investment turned out to be an elaborate swindle."
How to use swindle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo trick someone out of their money, or a scheme designed to do so.
Easily confused with
swaddle
Common pairings
swindle someone out of
an elaborate swindle
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Word forms
- Plural
- swindles
- Third person singular
- swindles
- Past tense
- swindled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ elderly investors out of their savings.
Etymology
A back-formation from swindler, itself borrowed from German Schwindler, related to schwindeln ("to be dizzy" or, figuratively, "to deceive").
Related words
Rhymes for swindle
See all rhymes for swindle →Frequently asked questions
What does “swindle” mean?
The word “swindle” means to cheat someone out of money or property through deception. In plain terms, to trick someone out of their money, or a scheme designed to do so.
How do you pronounce “swindle”?
“Swindle” is pronounced SWIHNDL (/ˈswɪnd(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “swindle” in a sentence?
Here is “swindle” used in a sentence: “He swindled elderly investors out of their savings.”
What is another word for “swindle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “swindle” include scheme and swizz.
What part of speech is “swindle”?
Depending on how it is used, “swindle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “swindle” come from?
The word “swindle” comes from German. A back-formation from swindler, itself borrowed from German Schwindler, related to schwindeln ("to be dizzy" or, figuratively, "to deceive").
How many meanings does “swindle” have?
“Swindle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cheat someone out of money or property through deception.
