embezzler

5 7.4

A person who takes money they were trusted with, often from their employer

noun
/ɪmˈbɛzlər/

: malversador

After reviewing the financial records, they discovered that the treasurer was an embezzler who had been siphoning money for years.
suspected embezzler
convicted embezzler
embezzlers and thieves

Both the criminal and the victim can feel wealthy, as the embezzler has his gain and the man who's been embezzled so far feels no loss.

Examples

Many embezzlers of funds have occupied positions of trust for years.

Crossroads (1942)
In the second case, which occurred in the summer of 2005, the suspected embezzler left town before anyone had the opportunity to confront him.

Academic text (2010)
They told me they had made multiple attempts to call the suspected embezzler, but he answered neither his door nor his phone.

Academic text (2010)
Brunswick fraternal group fears it will have to disband after an embezzler cleans out the bank account.

Blog text (22)
The police arrested the accountant for being an embezzler after he stole thousands from the company's funds.
An embezzler often betrays the trust of their employer to enrich themselves illegally.

Synonyms

crook

vsembezzler

Offensive

146 3.9

A dishonest person who cheats or steals

refers specifically to someone who takes money entrusted to their care

con man

vsembezzler

54 4.7

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

is more about misuse of funds entrusted by an employer or group

con artist

vsembezzler

44 4.8

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

is about taking funds trusted to someone, not only tricking strangers

scammer

vsembezzler

NSFW

19 4.0

A person who tricks others to take their money or things

differs by involving trusted access to funds rather than general scams

swindler

vsembezzler

14 5.4

A person who tricks people to take their money

is narrower, meaning specifically taking money one was trusted with

grifter

vsembezzler

Slang

14 9.1

A person who tricks others to get their money or things

is less about elaborate scams and more about trusted internal theft

defrauder

vsembezzler

Formal

1 7.9

A person who gets money by lying to or tricking people

involves money trusted to someone rather than fraud by general deception

gouger

vsembezzler

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who cheats people to get money

focuses on betrayal of trust and internal misuse rather than broad cheating

peculator

vsembezzler

Formal

1 9.9

A person who steals money or property trusted to them

focuses on money taken from an employer or organization rather than general misuse

flimflammer

vsembezzler

Archaic

1 9.9

A person who cheats others with tricks or fake deals

usually involves taking money one was trusted with rather than casual tricks

boodler

vsembezzler

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who takes money unfairly by accepting bribes

involves internal theft of entrusted funds rather than corrupt payments

cozener

vsembezzler

Archaic

1 9.9

A person who tricks people to get their money or things

is specific to taking funds entrusted to a person or organization

defalcator

vsembezzler

Formal

9.9

A person who steals money they were trusted to look after

is the common word for taking money trusted by an employer or organization

larcener

vsembezzler

Archaic

9.9

A person who illegally takes other people's things

focuses on misusing money given in trust rather than ordinary theft

How Dishonest

swindler

14 5.4

embezzler

5 7.4

crook

Offensive

146 3.9

thief

700 1.0

pilferer

1 7.3

Surface Forms

embezzler singular

embezzlers plural

Morphology

embezzler = embezzle (transparent) = embezzle + er

The noun is a straightforward agent noun formed from the verb 'embezzle' with the productive suffix '-er', so a learner who knows the verb can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Embezzler comes from the verb embezzle, which begins with em- meaning 'in' and once carried the idea of putting money into your own keeping, so a helpful picture is someone quietly putting trusted money into their pocket. That's why an embezzler is a person who dishonestly takes money they were trusted with.