Definition

Noun: A person who cheats or swindles others, typically through dishonest schemes, deception, or fraud. The term often implies someone who engages in petty or cunning dishonesty to gain money or advantages.

Usage

The word "chiseller" is used to describe a deceitful person, often one who cheats in small, sharp, or persistent ways. It can refer to someone who avoids paying their fair share, haggles dishonestly, or uses trickery in business dealings.

Examples

• The market vendor was known as a chiseller for consistently giving customers less product than they paid for.
• Don't trust him with the finances; he's a bit of a chiseller.
• The contractor turned out to be a chiseller, using substandard materials but charging for premium ones.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in a legal or journalistic context to describe white-collar criminals engaged in fraud.
  • The investigation revealed the CEO was not a visionary but a common chiseller who had defrauded investors.

Variants and Related Words

• Chiseler: The primary American English spelling of the word.
• Chisel (verb): To cheat or swindle someone. This is the action from which the noun "chiseller" is derived.
  • He tried to chisel a few extra dollars out of the elderly couple.

Synonyms

• Swindler
• Cheat
• Con artist
• Fraudster
• Scammer
• Sharper

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To chisel someone out of something: A phrasal verb meaning to defraud someone of a specific thing.
  • The scam artist chiselled the retirees out of their life savings.

Noun

1. a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud