Synonyms for

Con

Verb / kɑ:n / Another word for con — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to persuade someone to do or believe something by lying to them

Synonyms & similar words

flimflam goldbrick memorize bunco rook mulct learn nobble scam hustle memorise hornswoggle inmate victimize diddle pro yardbird gip bunko defraud gyp sting swindle convict trick deceive scam swindle dupe fool cheat hoodwink bamboozle mislead manipulate coax persuade convince beguile entice

Synonyms by register

Formal

ruse deception fraud scam

Informal

rip-off hoax trick swindle gimmick

Literary

artifice stratagem ploy

Antonyms

pro advantage benefit plus gain asset

Common collocations

  • a total con
  • fall for a con
  • run a con
  • a clever con
  • a simple con
  • a confidence con
  • a political con

Word family

noun con
verb con

Usage note

The word 'con' can be used as both a noun (a fraudulent scheme) and a verb (to deceive someone). It is generally informal.

Compare "con" with another word →

Example sentences

  1. He tried to con me into thinking it was my fault.
  2. The man was arrested for trying to con people out of their money.
  3. Don't let anyone con you into doing something you don't want to do.
  4. She knew he was trying to con her, but she didn't say anything.
  5. I can't believe he was able to con so many people for so long.

Quotes

  • It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not. - James Gordon, Batman Begins
  • The best way to not get your heart broken is to pretend you don't have one. - Charlie Sheen
  • I'm not a con artist. I'm a survivor. - Lindsay Lohan

Try these popular words

the and that for you with was this are have not from

Practice

Play the Word Synonyms game · Choose level (start near 1)

Worksheets

Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6

Topics

Guides

Explore more words