Synonyms of flimflam

flimflam 1 of 2

noun

ˈflim-ˌflam 

1

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end

giving the new guy at work her cell phone number—"in case of an emergency"—was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruse
• scheme
• trick
• device
• stratagem
• gambit
• ploy
• sleight of hand
• dodge
• knack
• jig
• fetch
• gimmick
• sleight
• bluff
• deception
• artifice
• wile
• shenanigan
• trickery
• hoax
• subterfuge
• juggle
• cunning
• chicanery
• legerdemain
• duplicity
• fakery
• feint
• swindling
• play
• swindle
• jugglery
• fraud
• skulduggery
• end run
• cozenage
• cheating
• sham
• gaff
• crookery
• dupery
• blind
• smoke screen
• craft
• front

2

as in scam

an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

just the latest Internet flimflam to get e-mail recipients to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scam
• fraud
• con
• swindle
• hoax
• scheme
• bunco
• sting
• hustle
• shell game
• fiddle
• trick
• device
• racket
• counterfeit
• stratagem
• cross
• Ponzi scheme
• ploy
• pyramid scheme
• sham
• forgery
• fix
• dodge
• rip-off
• phony
• jig
• gimmick
• sleight
• fake
• gouging
• humbug
• overcharging
• wile
• soaking
• three-card monte
• thimblerig

flimflam

2 of 2

verb

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

everyone likes to think that they're too smart to be flimflammed by anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flimflam

Noun

Marty Supreme is a movie about a charismatic flimflam man, and so its press tour has been full of flim and also flam. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025

The flimflams continue, even in Walmart’s home state of Arkansas. — Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2024

Instead, Democrats should present voters with a material choice between a party that has nothing to offer the majority of Americans but abuse and conspiratorial flimflam and a party committed to building a democracy and an economy that work for all. — Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 5 Feb. 2021

Might that statement actually be a bit of protective flimflam? — Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2020

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