What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
swindle
Example
The con artist swindled the elderly couple out of their life savings. [swindled: past tense]
Example
He was arrested for attempting to swindle people out of their money with a fake investment scheme. [swindle: verb]
dupe
Example
She felt like a dupe after realizing she had fallen for the scam. [dupe: noun]
Example
He was duped into buying a fake painting by a smooth-talking salesman. [duped: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swindle is less common than dupe in everyday language. Swindle is typically used in more formal or legal contexts, while dupe can be used in both formal and informal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between swindle and dupe?
Swindle is more formal than dupe. It is often used in legal or official contexts, while dupe is more informal and can be used in everyday language.
