Embezzle – Meaning, Definition, Synonyms and Antonyms
To embezzle (verb) means to steal money that you have been trusted with, usually at work or in an organization.
Meaning:
Embezzlement refers to the unlawful act of taking or misusing funds that have been entrusted to someone. It is a form of theft that involves breaking trust, often happening in professional, financial, or administrative roles.
Definition:
Embezzlement can involve anything from small amounts to very large sums, and it can occur in any kind of organization, including small businesses, charities, and large corporations. In most cases, the person has legitimate access to the money (or records) and then diverts it for personal use. Depending on the situation, embezzlement can lead to criminal charges, significant penalties, and serious damage to a person’s reputation. If you are also learning related vocabulary for wrongdoing, you may find it helpful to compare it with exploit and betray, which describe misuse of trust or advantage in different ways.
Example Sentences:
- The accountant was arrested for embezzling company funds.
- He embezzled millions through a complex web of shell corporations.
- She used her position to embezzle money from the charity.
- The treasurer was caught embezzling donations for personal gain.
- They discovered that their manager had been embezzling for years.
- The audit found that the contractor tried to embezzle payments by submitting fake invoices.
- After repeated complaints, the board investigated whether an employee was embezzling membership fees.
Embezzle Synonyms:
- Misappropriate
- Defalcate
- Pilfer
- Misuse
- Steal
- Redirect
- Diversion
- Exploit
- Backstab
- Entice
Embezzle Antonyms:
- Contribute
- Donate
- Reimburse
- Repay
- Return
- Account for
- Safeguard
- Manage honestly
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