as in fraud
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
that's just a scam to bilk insurance companies for staged accidents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 scam
The regime that jails children also profits from drugs, human trafficking, and online scams.
—
Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Good for you, and rest in peace, queen of scams!
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The new season finds the Shazam moving company battling corporate giant Zenithon Logistics, while Everett (Jae) drags the team through increasingly desperate schemes such as insurance scams, bogus grant applications and a basement AirBnb conversion gone wrong.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
People working in scam factories in Delhi or Kolkata or Phnom Penh can’t easily relate to their victims in Texas or Melbourne or Edinburgh.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
Noun
-
The president and his allies accused Cook of mortgage fraud.—
-
At the same briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt came out swinging at Minnesota Democrats in defense of the ICE agent while touting the Medicaid fraud investigation, which dates back to the Biden administration.—
Noun
-
From her minimum security lockup, she’s begun mounting her own social media blitz in a seeming attempt to win Trump’s favor and get sprung from prison and freed from accountability for her epic swindle.—
-
While Yusuf was found guilty of six counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle (over $35,000) in August by a jury, the decision was overturned by Judge Sarah West in November, according to KARE.—
Noun
-
Trump has called the affordability argument from Democrats a Democratic hoax.—
-
While it was initially claimed that the letter was legitimate, it was later confirmed to be a cruel hoax.—
Noun
-
The care team there was able to discuss the pros and cons of different PrEP regimens and knew how to navigate the formulary for Hurley’s insurance.—
-
Skinnies are in the mix, according to Draffan, noting how the body-con fit has been picking up momentum on the catwalks for several seasons.—
Noun
-
Sammis runs a pro-style scheme that prioritizes a strong run game and being efficient with the passing attack.—
-
Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, pleaded not guilty in November in a scheme to enrich her friend Sean McCluskie, a longtime deputy to former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, using money funneled from one of Becerra’s dormant campaign accounts.—
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share