What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bilking
Example
The customer was accused of bilking the restaurant by leaving without paying the bill. [bilking: verb]
Example
He was known for his reputation of bilking unsuspecting investors out of their money. [bilking: present participle]
dupe
Example
She felt like a dupe after realizing she had been tricked into buying a counterfeit product. [dupe: noun]
Example
He was duped into giving away his personal information to a scammer over the phone. [duped: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dupe is more commonly used than bilking in everyday language. Dupe is a versatile term that can be applied to various situations where someone is tricked or fooled. In contrast, bilking is less common and specifically relates to avoiding financial obligations or cheating in financial transactions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bilking and dupe?
Both bilking and dupe are relatively informal terms. However, bilking may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its association with financial matters, while dupe is more commonly used in casual conversations.
