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
Jean Eddy, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Read our full test and review of more than a dozen stainless steel skillets
The best sauté pan: The All-Clad D3 3-quart sauté pan
All-Clad D3 3 Quart Sauté Pan
$180 $150
Amazon
Pros & cons
Specs
Next verse, same as the first.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 May 2025
Teele Rebane, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Fraudsters create phishing sites to con their patsies into giving away valuable login credentials.
—PCMAG, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for con
Noun
Analyze and compare training options To evaluate the pros and cons of each training program, this four-step checklist includes a useful rubric.
—Jean Eddy, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Read our full test and review of more than a dozen stainless steel skillets
The best sauté pan: The All-Clad D3 3-quart sauté pan
All-Clad D3 3 Quart Sauté Pan
$180 $150
Amazon
Pros & cons
Specs
Next verse, same as the first.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 May 2025
Verb
The group were among around 7,000 people recently released from scam centers run by criminal gangs and warlords operating along Myanmar’s border with Thailand, where many are held against their will and forced to work conning ordinary people, including American citizens, out of their life savings.
—Teele Rebane, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Fraudsters create phishing sites to con their patsies into giving away valuable login credentials.
—PCMAG, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for con
Cite this Entry
“Con.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/con. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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