swindling

Swindle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Swindling.] — Webster enters it under “swindle”

Etymology: [See Swindler.]

To cheat defraud grossly, or with deliberate artifice; as, to swindle a man out of his property. Lammote . . . has swindled one of them out of three hundred livres. Carlyle.

1 other Webster entry under this spelling

Swindle, n.

The act or process of swindling; a cheat.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for swindling; he lists it under fraud.

Where he writes about it:

Fraud is commonly actionable at law; cheating and swindling are for the most part out of the reach of legal proceedings. — from fraud

Synonyms

fraud artifice cheat cheating deceit deception dishonesty duplicity imposition imposture swindle treachery treason trick

Antonyms

fairness good faith honesty integrity truth uprightness

etymology Webster’s online