CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 123
Vocabulary Lesson 26: Ripped Off
Today’s roots: sub-, subter- under, secretly fugere to flee
larecin theft machina device❑ charlatan(n) a fraud; a quack (chiarlatinoa quack)
June’s family warned her that Chaz was a charlatanonly pretending to be a successful lawyer.
Synonyms:imposter, con man, swindler❑ ruse(n) a crafty scheme
The clever criminal came up with a flawless ruseto steal the money from the bank.
Synonyms:strategem, machination❑ subterfuge(n) a scheme; an attempt to deceive (subtersecretly+fugereto flee)
It takes real subterfugeto sneak anything past Principal Guber; it’s like he is able to see your every move.
Synonyms:surreptitiousness, strategem, ploy Antonyms:forthrightness, candor❑ dupe(n) one who is easily deceived
The con artist has a knack for picking the perfect dupe,someone who will easily fall for his scam.
Synonyms:chump, pushover❑ pilfer(v) to steal
The looters pilferedcountless items from the electronics store during the riot.
Synonyms:embezzle, filch❑ swindle(v) to cheat
The street hustler swindledthe unsuspecting man, tricking him into buying a fake designer watch.
Synonyms:bamboozle, hoodwink❑ gullible(adj) easily deceived
Thegullibleteenager was easily tricked by her friends into believing that one of them was a secret agent.
Synonym:naive Antonym:astute❑ embezzle(v) to steal money from one’s employer
Synonyms:loot, pilfer❑ machination(n) a crafty scheme (machinadevice)
Synonyms:strategem, ruse❑ bilk(v) to cheat, to swindle
Synonyms:hoodwink, defraud, cheat, fleece❑ larceny(n) theft (larecinFr theft)
Synonym:thievery❑ filch(v) to steal
Synonyms:pilfer, embezzle❑ fleece(v) to defraud of money, to swindle
Synonyms:swindle, bilk, hoodwink, defraud