'Confidence man' definitions:
Definition of 'confidence man'
From: WordNet
noun
A swindler who exploits the confidence of his victim [syn: confidence man, con man, con artist]
Definition of 'Confidence man'
From: GCIDE
- Confidence \Con"fi*dence\, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
- 1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. [1913 Webster]
- Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. --South. [1913 Webster]
- A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- 2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. [1913 Webster]
- The Lord shall be thy confidence. --Prov. iii. 26. [1913 Webster]
- 3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. [1913 Webster]
- Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. [1913 Webster]
- Sir, I desire some confidence with you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler; several swindlers often work together to create the illusion of truth; -- also called con game.
- Confidence man, a swindler.
- To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.
- Syn: Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. [1913 Webster]
- I am confident that very much be done. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. [1913 Webster]
- Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. [1913 Webster]
- As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. [1913 Webster]
- The fool rageth and is confident. --Prov. xiv. 16. [1913 Webster]
- 5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'confidence man'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- bunco artist,
- bunco steerer,
- cardsharp,
- cardsharper,
- carpetbagger,
- con artist,
- con man,
- crimp,
- defrauder,
- diddler,
- gyp,
- horse coper,
- horse trader,
- jackleg,
- land pirate,
- land shark,
- land-grabber,
- mortgage shark,
- pettifogger,
- pitchman,
- shark,
- sharp,
- sharper,
- sharpie,
- shortchanger,
- shyster,
- slicker,
- spieler,
- trickster