# spindle vs swindle

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### spindle
*noun · IPA /ˈspɪndəl/ · frequency rank #25,590*
A rod used for spinning and then winding fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper or lower end of the shaft when suspended vertically from the forming thread.

### swindle
*verb · IPA /ˈswɪnd(ə)l/ · frequency rank #43,401*
To defraud.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spindle-vs-swindle