as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to study
to commit to memory
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scan
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)
seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of con
Matt Burgess, WIRED, 27 Jan. 2025
Board members are weighing the pros and cons between replacing the Sleepy Hollow outdoor pool, the less costly option, or going with a more expensive indoor facility at the Randall Oaks Recreation Center in West Dundee.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
CBS News, 5 Jan. 2025
Squibb plays a 93-year-old grandmother (Squibb is 95 now) who is conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger).
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for con 
Noun
Messages shared within Telegram channels show how the fraudsters are quick to evolve their cons, use new technologies, and widely share or sell advice with each other.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 27 Jan. 2025
Board members are weighing the pros and cons between replacing the Sleepy Hollow outdoor pool, the less costly option, or going with a more expensive indoor facility at the Randall Oaks Recreation Center in West Dundee.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
Do not be conned by the denial of the election of 2020.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 2025
Squibb plays a 93-year-old grandmother (Squibb is 95 now) who is conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger).
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for con
Thesaurus Entries Near con
Cite this Entry
“Con.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/con. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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