Con
Con noun - An instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value.
Usage example: the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Scam is a synonym for con in swindle topic. In some cases you can use "Scam" instead the word "Con" as a noun or a verb. popular alternative
Nearby Word: cony
Scam
Scam noun - An instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value.
Usage example: that's just a scam to bilk insurance companies for staged accidents
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Synonyms for Scam
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
- Much like the scam/con example above, they'd so thoroughly convinced themselves that they couldn't be fooled that they never even bothered to look.
Source: Too Clever by Half - Reasons for this can vary wildly, but usually it's done to either intimidate opponents into backing off or as part of some elaborate scam or con scheme.
Source: Fake Wizardry - This usually involves actually infiltrating said group of bad guys, and running some sort of scam or con that causes them to overextend and get in trouble, mostly with other rival criminal organizations who then wipe out the trouble making group (or both wipe each other out).
Source: Underhanded Hero
Cite this Source
Scam and Con. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/con/scam
Con & Scam. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/con/scam>.
Scam or Con. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/con/scam.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "con" and "scam" have occurred on timeline