defrauded; defrauding; defrauds
: to deprive of something by deception or fraud
trying to defraud the public
Investors in the scheme were defrauded of their life savings.
Synonyms
Examples of defraud in a Sentence
They were accused of trying to defraud the public.
They conspired to defraud the government.
She was convicted of writing bad checks with intent to defraud.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hill was indicted last week and charged with three counts of exploitation of the elderly, two counts of fraudulent use of personal identification, one count of mortgage fraud and one count of scheming to defraud over $50,000.
—
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Both individuals orchestrated massive pyramid schemes, defrauding investors of billions.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Elizabeth Holmes, who was convicted of defrauding investors in her blood-testing start-up, Theranos, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in 2022.
—J. Edward Moreno, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
He was found guilty of wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering, prosecutors said, for defrauding customers in his FTX crypto exchange firm and defrauding investors for his investment firm Alameda Research.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024
Paxton had been accused of defrauding investors in a Dallas-area tech company called Servergy by not disclosing that he was being paid by the company to recruit them.
—Juan Lozano, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024
Paxton was charged nearly a decade ago, accused of defrauding investors at a Dallas-area tech company by not disclosing that he was paid by the company to recruit them.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
An Atlanta meat market owner tried defrauding the U.S. government in a $10 million food stamp scheme, then fled the country to avoid prosecution, federal officials said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
According to a complaint from an assistant U.S. attorney fulfilling the U.S.’ extradition treaty with the U.K., in four instances Smyth allegedly defrauded clients to the tune of £135,570 (around $173,000) while working as an independent mortgage advisor in Northern Ireland between 2008 and 2010.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Both individuals orchestrated massive pyramid schemes, defrauding investors of billions.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Elizabeth Holmes, who was convicted of defrauding investors in her blood-testing start-up, Theranos, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in 2022.
—J. Edward Moreno, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
He was found guilty of wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering, prosecutors said, for defrauding customers in his FTX crypto exchange firm and defrauding investors for his investment firm Alameda Research.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024
Paxton had been accused of defrauding investors in a Dallas-area tech company called Servergy by not disclosing that he was being paid by the company to recruit them.
—Juan Lozano, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024
Paxton was charged nearly a decade ago, accused of defrauding investors at a Dallas-area tech company by not disclosing that he was paid by the company to recruit them.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
An Atlanta meat market owner tried defrauding the U.S. government in a $10 million food stamp scheme, then fled the country to avoid prosecution, federal officials said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
According to a complaint from an assistant U.S. attorney fulfilling the U.S.’ extradition treaty with the U.K., in four instances Smyth allegedly defrauded clients to the tune of £135,570 (around $173,000) while working as an independent mortgage advisor in Northern Ireland between 2008 and 2010.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defraud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defraud. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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