bilk

Steal through deception

To bilk is to cheat or swindle, especially by avoiding payment or depriving someone of money owed: The contractor bilked elderly homeowners out of thousands.

The word often implies evasion rather than direct theft—slipping away from obligations.

Someone who bilks creditors dodges debts; a scheme that bilks investors extracts money through deception.

cheating

swindle

Deception for financial gain

  • conArgument against
  • scamDishonest money-making scheme
  • fleeceWool still on sheep

defraud · cheat · gyp · flimflam · cozen · grift · hustle · rip off · gouge · overcharge

deception

dupe

Deceive or victim

mislead · trick · gull · fool · snooker · sucker · beguile · delude · hoax · con artist

evasion

dodge

Avoid by quick movement

  • evadeEscape by cunning
  • shirkEvade one's obligations
  • skip outLeave abruptly, often irresponsibly

welch · renege · default · stiff · deadbeat · skip · abscond · welsh · duck · slip away

Categories
Opposites
honesty in transactions

bilkrepay

Return money owed

compensate · reimburse · honor · pay in full · fulfill

direction of value transfer

bilkgive

To transfer possession

bestow · provide · grant · donate · commit

Family

bilking, bilked, bilkers

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G