conned: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal
Quick answer
What does “conned” mean?
Tricked or deceived, especially to obtain money or something valuable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Tricked or deceived, especially to obtain money or something valuable.
More broadly, manipulated or misled into believing something false or acting against one's interests.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage as a verb meaning 'deceived' is consistent; 'con' as a noun for prisoner is more common in BrE.
Connotations
Negative in both dialects, associated with fraud or scams.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in AmE in contexts of fraud, but widely used in both.
Grammar
How to Use “conned” in a Sentence
transitive: conned someonetransitive with preposition: conned someone into doing somethingpassive: be connedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conned” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He conned the elderly couple out of their savings.
American English
- She conned him into buying a worthless timeshare.
adjective
British English
- The conned tourists filed a complaint with the police.
American English
- Conned investors often hesitate to report the crime.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in fraud contexts, e.g., 'The firm was conned by a fake contractor.'
Academic
Rare; formal terms like 'deceived' are preferred.
Everyday
Common in conversation, e.g., 'I was conned into attending the seminar.'
Technical
In legal or criminology, referring to confidence tricks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conned”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conned”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conned”
- Using without object, e.g., 'He conned.' (incorrect); confusing with 'con' in pros and cons.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and commonly used in everyday speech.
Yes, the base form is 'con', as in 'He cons people regularly.'
They are similar, but 'scammed' often implies a more organized fraud, while 'conned' can involve personal deception.
Use it with an object and often a preposition like 'into' or 'out of', e.g., 'She conned him out of his wallet.'
Tricked or deceived, especially to obtain money or something valuable.
Conned: in British English it is pronounced /kɒnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɑːnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “conned out of one's life savings”
- “conned into a false sense of security”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'con artist' – a person who cons you is like a con artist tricking you.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A GAME where the deceiver wins through cunning.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'conned' typically imply?