# swindle

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈswɪnd(ə)l/ · frequency rank #43,401

## Definitions
1. To defraud.
2. To obtain (money or property) by fraudulent or deceitful methods.
3. For a player in a losing position to play a clever move that provokes an error from the opponent, thus achieving a win or a draw.

## Etymology
Back-formation from swindler, from German Schwindler, from German schwindeln, from Middle High German swindeln, swindelen, from Old High German swintilōn, frequentative of the verb swintan, from Proto-West Germanic *swindan (“to diminish”).
See also Modern German schwindeln, Danish svindel and svindle, Dutch zwindelen and zwendelen, Yiddish שווינדל (shvindl), Low German swinneln, Middle English swinden (“to languish, waste away”).

## Easily confused with
- **swine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/swindle-vs-swine)
- **Swindon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/swindle-vs-swindon)
- **single** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/single-vs-swindle)
- **spindle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spindle-vs-swindle)
- **shingle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shingle-vs-swindle)

## Common misspellings (11)
`siwndle`, `sswindle`, `swidnle`, `swinddle`, `swindel`, `swindlle`, `swinlde`, `swinndle`, `swnidle`, `swwindle`, `wsindle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/swindle