cheat

1 of 2

verb

ˈchēt 

cheated; cheating; cheats

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud

cheated the elderly couple out of their property

2

: to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice

a young man who cheated young women into marrying him when he was already married

3

: to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting

cheat death

intransitive verb

1

a

: to practice fraud or trickery

denied the accusation that he cheated

b

: to violate rules dishonestly

cheat at cards

cheating on a test

2

: to be sexually unfaithful

—usually used with on

was cheating on his wife

3

: to position oneself defensively near a particular area in anticipation of a play in that area

the shortstop was cheating toward second base

cheat

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or an instance of fraudulently deceiving : deception, fraud

His financial activity turned out to be a great cheat.

2

or cheat code : a code (such as a button combination or password) that activates a hidden feature or capability in a computer or video game

In fact, some game levels are so tough that I had to resort to cheats to get through.

—Peter Cohen

Most people think that using a cheat code is the only way to earn a dishonest reward …

—Christopher Breen

3

: one that cheats : pretender, deceiver

is a liar and a cheat

tax cheats

4

[probably from a deceptive resemblance to grain]

a

: chess sense 1

b

: cheatgrass

5

: the obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth

Synonyms

Verb

• chicane
• finagle
• fudge

Noun

• bilk
• bilker
• cheater
• chiseler
• chiseller
• confidence man
• cozener
• defrauder
• dodger
• fakir
• finagler
• fraudster [chiefly British]
• hoaxer
• scammer
• scamster
• shark
• sharper
• sharpie
• sharpy
• skinner
• swindler
• tricker
• trickster

Choose the Right Synonym for cheat

cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception.

cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Examples of cheat in a Sentence

Verb

The players were accused of cheating.

I had to cheat in order to solve the puzzle.

The store cheats its customers through false advertising.

They cheated him out of a fair deal.

a heroin addict who has cheated death many times

Noun

a cheat at cards

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Instead, Yang used the opportunity to ask the candidate and, subsequently, X users how people cheat in job interviews nowadays—and the responses were pretty eye-opening. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024

Fifteen school districts and charter schools have signed up so far for the chatbot tool, which Khan Academy says discourages cheating by nudging students toward an answer without giving it to them outright. —Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 22 Oct. 2024

Noun

For a project looking to quickly establish its horror bona fides, casting Bruce Campbell in a key role is a practically a cheat code. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024

Consider eating beforehand or know this will be a cheat day. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

earlier cheat forfeited property, from Middle English chet escheat, short for eschete — more at escheat

First Known Use

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cheat

• cheat code
• cheat fate
• cheat on
• cheat sheet

Kids Definition

cheat

1 of 2 verb

ˈchēt 

1

: to deprive of something valuable by dishonest methods

cheated them out of their property

2

: to successfully avoid or oppose by or as if by cleverness

the daredevil had cheated death again

3

: to use unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage

cheat on a test

cheat at cards

cheater noun

cheat

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of cheating

2

: a person who cheats