swindler

15 5.4

A person who tricks people to take their money

noun
/ˈswɪndlər/

: estafador

After months of investigation, the police finally caught the swindler who had been posing as a financial advisor.
criminals and swindlers

Examples

The swindler tricked many unsuspecting investors out of their savings.
My father was a drunk and a swindler.

The Duel (2016)
The gentleman is a renegade, a swindler, and a cheat.

Shanghai Surprise (1986)
I felt I could do something about it. "Who are they, these frauds and swindlers?" Jesus asked.

Fiction book (2001)
All along the way, swindlers were lying in wait for unwary travelers.

Academic text (1993)
These men are swindlers!

The Mummy's Hand (1940)
She lost her money to a charming swindler who promised high returns on her investment.

Synonyms

fraud

vsswindler

Offensive

160 4.4

A person who pretends to be something they are not to trick others

is the ordinary word for someone who takes money or property by deception

crook

vsswindler

Offensive

153 3.9

A dishonest person who cheats or steals

is narrowed to deception for money or property rather than general criminality

cheater

vsswindler

Offensive

112 2.6

A person who breaks the rules or lies to get an advantage

is specific to obtaining money or property unlawfully rather than any unfairness

cheat

vsswindler

Offensive

55 2.6

A person who acts dishonestly to gain an unfair advantage

is narrower, focusing on unlawful money or property taking by deception

scoundrel

vsswindler

Offensive

51 6.5

A person who behaves dishonestly and hurts others by lying or stealing

is specific to unlawful money or property taking through deception rather than general immorality

con man

vsswindler

47 4.7

A person who tricks people by gaining their trust to get their money

is the wider term for deception not focused on charm or showmanship

con artist

vsswindler

40 4.8

A person who tricks people by gaining their trust to take their money or valuables

is broader, using any deceptive method not only trust based tricks

scammer

vsswindler

NSFW

20 4.0

A person who tricks others to take their money or things

is more general, covering any deceitful taking beyond scheme use

trickster

vsswindler

20 6.0

A person who lies to or cheats others, often to have fun

is aimed at stealing money or property, not playful or cunning mischief

grifter

vsswindler

Slang

16 9.1

A person who tricks others to get their money or things

is the general label, not limited to professional tricking

duper

vsswindler

Offensive

13 7.9

A person who tricks others to take their money or things

is aimed at unlawful money or property gain rather than mere tricking

chiseler

vsswindler

Offensive

3 9.8

A person who cheats others by lying and taking their money

is broader, focusing on unlawful taking of money or property

defrauder

vsswindler

Formal

1 7.9

A person who gets money by lying to or tricking people

is the common everyday word rather than legal or technical term

gouger

vsswindler

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who cheats people to get money

is the general everyday word for unlawful taking by deceit

rooker

vsswindler

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who cheats others to get money or things

is the standard modern expression instead of the archaic or rare form

bamboozler

vsswindler

Informal

1 7.8

A person who tricks or cheats people, often as a joke

is more focused on serious unlawful taking rather than playful deception

flimflammer

vsswindler

Archaic

9.9

A person who cheats others with tricks or fake deals

is the general term, not limited to playful or flashy trickery

cozener

vsswindler

Archaic

9.9

A person who tricks people to get their money or things

focuses specifically on gaining money or property unlawfully by deception

swizz

vsswindler

Offensive

9.9

A person who tricks others to take their money

is the common modern term for someone who takes money unlawfully

magsman

vsswindler

Archaic

9.9

A person who tricks others using clever talk to take their money

is the everyday modern word rather than this outdated form

finagler

vsswindler

Offensive

9.8

A person who gets things by tricking or lying to others

is about stealing money or property unlawfully rather than clever manipulation

clip artist

vsswindler

Offensive

9.6

A person who cheats or overcharges people to get money

is the broader unlawful taker not restricted to billing or pricing tricks

diddler

vsswindler

Offensive

8.6

A person who cheats others to get small amounts of money

refers to larger or more serious frauds to obtain money or property

cardsharper

vsswindler

Archaic

9.9

A person who cheats at card games to win money

is the general term for deceptive money taking beyond gaming contexts

shammer

vsswindler

9.6

A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people

is focused on taking money or property rather than false identity or claims

boodler

vsswindler

Offensive

9.9

A person who takes money unfairly by accepting bribes

is broader, covering many deceitful methods beyond corruption or bribery

How Dishonest

con artist

40 4.8

swindler

15 5.4

cheater

Offensive

112 2.6

Surface Forms

swindler singular

swindlers plural

Morphology

swindler = swindle (transparent) = swindle + er

Standard agentive noun formed from the verb 'swindle' with '-er'; meaning is directly predictable for learners.

Etymology

Swindler comes from an old German word schwindeln meaning 'to be dizzy'. A helpful way to remember it is to picture someone who makes you 'dizzy' with tricks and lies until you hand over your money, which is why a swindler is a person who cheats others.