To swindle means to cheat someone out of their money or possessions through clever tricks or lies. A swindler might convince an elderly neighbor to pay for unnecessary home repairs, or sell someone a “valuable antique” that's actually worthless. Unlike simple stealing, swindling involves deception: the victim hands over their money or property willingly because they've been fooled.

Famous swindlers in history have sold fake miracle cures, convinced people to invest in businesses that didn't exist, or forged documents to claim ownership of things that weren't theirs. The con artist who claimed to sell the Brooklyn Bridge to tourists (multiple times!) was pulling off a classic swindle.

The word carries a sense of cunning dishonesty. Someone might steal a bike left unlocked, but a swindler would convince you to give them your bike by pretending they need to borrow it for an emergency. What makes swindling particularly harmful is the betrayal of trust: victims often feel foolish for being tricked, even though the fault lies entirely with the dishonest person who deceived them.

A swindle can also be used as a noun to describe the scheme itself: “The fake charity was just a swindle to steal people's donations.”