bilk 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bilknext
as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value people who lost money in the scheme discovered that the investment company was a fake and the "owner" just a bilk

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bilk

2 of 2

verb

ˈbilk How to pronounce bilk (audio)
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bilk
Verb
Sophisticated online fraud schemes, operating from industrial-scale scam centers in Southeast Asia, are bilking Americans out of billions of dollars each year. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026 Federal prosecutors allege Eidleh was the mastermind who bilked taxpayers out of $250 million by exploiting federal child nutrition programs meant to feed vulnerable children. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026 The Justice Department said that the disgraced former executive bilked the museum out of the money by altering invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 July 2026 Lawmakers have griped for decades that defense contractors have bilked the federal government on lucrative projects that run over budget and over schedule. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bilk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bilk
  1. cheat
  2. squeeze
  3. dodger
  4. pluck
  5. hustle
  6. sting
  7. defraud
  8. screw
Noun
  • Nostalgia often feels like a cheat code to our hearts, but there's nothing wrong with that.
    — Ian Stokes, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Nvidia brings a lot of gaming clout to the table, and game companies are already signing up to offer native anti-cheat and in-game support on Arm as a result.
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • For hungry Southerners trying to squeeze a meal into their lunch breaks, that’s a major blunder.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Push through the soles of your feet and squeeze your glutes to drive your hips upward.
    — Jenessa Connor, HEALTH, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • The White House is now cracking down on these tariff dodgers.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of dodger
Verb
  • The Royals plucked manager Matt Quatraro from the Rays organization in 2022.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Orioles plucked Jared Banner from the Cubs to be their new general manager under Mike Elias.
    — Josh Tolentino, Baltimore Sun, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • In Frankfurt, a gray city crumbling at the corners and still finding its footing after the war, though somehow doing its best to pretend all is well, Mann and Erika are greeted by the mayor and hustled off to a press conference.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The two firefighters, listening to their radios, hustled to the upstream bridge, prepared rope and watched the water.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of hustle
Verb
  • Continue reading … CROSSING THE AISLE — Manchin delivers stinging rebuke to Schumer with surprise Senate campaign stop.
    — , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sting
Verb
  • Only Bernie Madoff, whose Ponzi scheme defrauded 40,000 investors, comes close in terms of attention.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Vereb, 72, appeared at the Allegheny County Courthouse on Thursday, submitting a guilty plea after being accused of defrauding thousands of pet owners over several years while operating funeral homes in Hazelwood and Harrison Township.
    — Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of defraud
Verb
  • Some Cleveland Guardians fans got screwed by the rain in more ways than one on Friday night.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Permanent flood barriers are anything that gets screwed into the wall or permanently attached to a structure.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of screw

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biliousness
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Cite this Entry

“Bilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bilk. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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