as in scams
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in studies
to commit to memory
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reviews
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)
seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hustles
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in tricks
to cause to believe what is untrue
tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cons
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Here are eight of the most popular proposals for closing Social Security’s funding gap, and the pros and cons of each.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Sonos cons Sonos products are notorious for being expensive.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Bristol West car insurance cons Drivers with good driving records or good credit may find better prices elsewhere.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Krups coffee grinder cons The grind on a Krups coffee grinder depends on the experience of the person using it.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
And perhaps most importantly, the internet wasn’t around for every aspect to be picked apart, and discussions of ever-expanding lore sat in friend groups, cons, or limited forums.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver.
—Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Even when researchers reworded prompts or asked for pros-and-cons analysis, the AI models, in many cases, demonstrated a strong preference toward a similar business strategy.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
What are the pros and cons of the ways filmmakers can take their destiny into their own hands?
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Here are eight of the most popular proposals for closing Social Security’s funding gap, and the pros and cons of each.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Sonos cons Sonos products are notorious for being expensive.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Bristol West car insurance cons Drivers with good driving records or good credit may find better prices elsewhere.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Krups coffee grinder cons The grind on a Krups coffee grinder depends on the experience of the person using it.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
And perhaps most importantly, the internet wasn’t around for every aspect to be picked apart, and discussions of ever-expanding lore sat in friend groups, cons, or limited forums.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver.
—Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Even when researchers reworded prompts or asked for pros-and-cons analysis, the AI models, in many cases, demonstrated a strong preference toward a similar business strategy.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cons. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
