fleecing

Cheating for money

Fleecing is cheating or swindling someone, typically by charging excessive prices or extracting money through deception: tourists getting fleeced by street vendors, The casino fleeced him for everything he had.

The image comes from shearing a sheep—stripping away what covers someone, leaving them exposed and poorer.

swindling

scamming

Defrauding through deception

fraudIntentional criminal trickery
deceptionIntentional misleading of others
conArgument against

cheating · duping · defrauding · grift · scam · sham · trickery · bamboozle · charlatan · fraudster

gouging

overcharging

Demanding excessive payment

profiteeringExploiting scarcity for gain
price gougingExcessive pricing during crises
extortionObtaining through threats

exploitation · rip-off · monopoly · shakedown · exaction · markup · predatory pricing · scalping · usury · swindle

shearing

wool

Sheared animal fiber

sheepWoolly farm animal
shearsHeavy-duty cutting blades
clippersHandheld cutting implements

shepherd · lamb · livestock · farm · pasture · lanolin · woolen · yarn · spinning · carding

Categories

dishonestydishonesty, deceit, duplicity, lying, mendacity
conscon, scam, swindle, grift, hustle
scamsscam, scams, fraud, frauds, swindle
deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud

Opposites

fairness in transactions

fleecingfair dealing

Honest, equitable conduct principle

square dealing · transparent pricing · ethical trading

giving vs. taking

fleecinggenerosity

Readiness to give freely

giving · enriching · bestowing · donating · gifting

protection vs. exploitation

fleecingprotecting

Keeping from harm

safeguarding · looking out for · defending · shielding · helping

Family

fleece, fleeced, fleeces

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG