Bilk — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbilk/

Meaning & Definition of Bilk

Bilk (verb)

  1. to block the free development of, frustrate
  2. to cheat out of something valuable, defraud
  3. to evade payment of or to

Bilk (noun)

  1. an untrustworthy tricky individual, cheat

Bilk (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, fakir, finagler, fraudster (chiefly British), hoaxer, scammer, scamster, shark, sharper, sharpie, skinner, swindler, tricker, trickster
    related: double-crosser, double-dealer, bluffer, charlatan, fake, faker, humbug, impostor, mountebank, phony, pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham, adventurer, fox, gamesman, knave, prankster, rascal, rogue, fast-talker, slick, slicker, slickster, slyboots, smoothy, wheeler-dealer, plotter, schemer, sneak, sneaker, blackleg, cardsharp

Bilk (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: beat, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hose (slang), hustle, mulct, nobble (British slang), pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners
    related: extort, wrench, wrest, wring, clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak, exploit, milk, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick, rope (in), betray, bitch, double-cross, bamboozle, fast-talk

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bilk

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bilk:

Chiefly British: fraudster
Slang: hose
British slang: nobble
bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, fakir, finagler, hoaxer, scammer, scamster, shark, sharper, sharpie, skinner, swindler, tricker, trickster, beat, bleed, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hustle, mulct, pluck, ream, rip off

Related Words for Bilk

double-crosser, double-dealer, bluffer, charlatan, fake, faker, humbug, impostor, mountebank, phony, pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham, adventurer, fox, gamesman, knave, prankster, rascal, rogue, fast-talker, slick, slicker, slickster, slyboots, smoothy, wheeler-dealer, plotter

Word Forms of Bilk

Inflections: bilked, bilking, bilks

Derived words: bilker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bilk

perhaps alteration of balk:1

First known use: 1641

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bilk

Frequently Asked Questions about Bilk

What does "Bilk" mean?

"Bilk" means to block the free development of, frustrate. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to block the free development of, frustrate. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bilk"?

Other words for "Bilk" include bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler, confidence man, cozener, defrauder and dodger. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bilk" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bilk"?

There are 118 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bilk". Common alternatives include bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, fakir and finagler.

How do you use "Bilk" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bilk" in a sentence: "people who lost money in the scheme discovered that the investment company was a fake and the owner just a bilk"; "an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made".

Is "Bilk" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bilk" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Bilk" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Bilk" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Bilk"?

"Bilk" is pronounced /ˈbilk/.

What is the origin of the word "Bilk"?

"Bilk" comes from perhaps alteration of balk:1. First known use: 1641.