What does swindled mean?
Swindled means that someone has been cheated, deceived, or unfairly deprived of money, property, or another valuable asset. The word is especially common when the deception causes a financial loss, as in statements such as "investors were swindled" or "she was swindled out of her savings." It can describe either a completed act or a person who has been deceived: "The customer was swindled by a convincing but fraudulent scheme." Although swindled is strongly negative, it is used in everyday conversation as well as in journalism, legal reporting, and business contexts. It generally implies deliberate deception rather than a simple mistake, and it often carries the implication that the victim has lost money or something of comparable value. The related noun swindler denotes a person who engages in such deception.
verbTo cheat or deceive someone, especially by taking their money or property through dishonest means.
- Cheated or deprived of money or property through deception.
- Having been cheated in this way, especially as the subject of a passive construction.
"The online seller swindled customers out of thousands of pounds by selling products that were never delivered."
"She realized that the investment company had swindled her out of her entire savings."
"Several elderly customers were swindled by callers impersonating bank employees."
To be swindled is to be cheated out of something valuable, often money, by someone whose promises cannot be trusted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does swindled come from?
The word comes from the verb swindle, which first appeared in the early 18th century, although its precise origin is uncertain. The verb originally meant to cheat or deceive and later developed the additional sense of obtaining money fraudulently. Its present participle and past tense, swindled, have long been used to describe someone who has been defrauded.
Related word forms
How swindled is actually used
The word is used in both formal and informal contexts but conveys deliberate dishonesty and usually implies financial loss. It is commonly used with "out of": "They were swindled out of their savings."