Cheat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈchēt/

Meaning & Definition of Cheat

Cheat (verb)

  1. to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
  2. to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
  3. to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting

Cheat (noun)

  1. the act or an instance of fraudulently deceiving, deception, fraud
  2. a code (such as a button combination or password) that activates a hidden feature or capability in a computer or video game
  3. one that cheats, pretender, deceiver

Cheat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal

    "students who cheat on tests end up never knowing anything"

    similar: chicane, finagle, fudge
    related: crib, color, distort, falsify, misinterpret, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp, doctor, fake, tamper (with), elaborate, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, magnify, pad, stretch, dodge, evade, hedge

  2. to be sexually unfaithful

    "he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him"

    similar: philander, screw around, step out
    related: cat (around), fool around, fornicate, play (around), tomcat (around), womanize, copulate, couple, lie, make out, mate, sleep, lust

  3. to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of

    "the daredevil survived his plunge over the falls with barely a scratch, having cheated death once again"

    similar: disappoint, dissatisfy, fail, let down
    related: bum (out), chagrin, discontent, disgruntle, displease, distress, upset, disenchant, disillusion, deceive, delude, mock
    opposite: content, gratify, satisfy
    near: fulfill, gladden

  4. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "a despicable confidence man who heartlessly cheated elderly people out of their savings"

    similar: beat, bilk, bleed, 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

Cheat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value

    "a cheat at cards"

    similar: bilk, bilker, 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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cheat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cheat:

Slang: hose
British slang: nobble
Chiefly British: fraudster
chicane, finagle, fudge, philander, screw around, step out, disappoint, dissatisfy, fail, let down, beat, bilk, bleed, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hustle, mulct, pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cheat

Words with the opposite meaning of Cheat:

content, gratify, satisfy

Related Words for Cheat

crib, color, distort, falsify, misinterpret, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp, doctor, fake, tamper (with), elaborate, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, magnify, pad, stretch, dodge, evade, hedge, cat (around), fool around, fornicate, play (around), tomcat (around), womanize, copulate

Near Antonyms of Cheat

fulfill, gladden

Word Forms of Cheat

Inflections: cheated, cheating, cheats

Origin & Etymology of Cheat

cheat:2

First known use: 1590t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cheat

Words & Phrases Containing Cheat

cheat sheet, cheat fate, cheat on

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheat

What does "Cheat" mean?

"Cheat" means to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cheat"?

Other words for "Cheat" include chicane, finagle, fudge, philander, screw around, step out, disappoint and dissatisfy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cheat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cheat"?

There are 174 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cheat". Common alternatives include chicane, finagle, fudge, philander, screw around, step out, disappoint, dissatisfy, fail and let down.

What is the opposite of "Cheat"?

Antonyms of "Cheat" include content, gratify and satisfy. Near antonyms include fulfill and gladden.

How do you use "Cheat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cheat" in a sentence: "students who cheat on tests end up never knowing anything"; "he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him"; "the daredevil survived his plunge over the falls with barely a scratch, having cheated death once again".

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

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

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

As a B1-level word, "Cheat" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Cheat"?

"Cheat" is pronounced /ˈchēt/.