cheated

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of cheat.

   The student cheated on his final exam and was expelled.

   She had cheated her business partner for years before anyone noticed.

   Note

   The regular -ed ending does two jobs here: simple past (he cheated at cards) and past participle (she has cheated). Only the meanings that take an object, tricking someone or escaping the inevitable, can turn passive: he was cheated, death was cheated. Rule-breaking and infidelity stay active and usually add on, as in cheated on the test or cheated on her. After feel, it shades into the adjective for being tricked.

2. 2
   adjective

   Tricked or deceived into believing or doing something by someone acting dishonestly.

   The cheated voters demanded a full recount of the ballots.

   She felt cheated by the unfair and misleading decision.

   Similarbetrayed

3. 3
   adjective

   Deprived of money or property through fraud or dishonest dealing.

   The cheated investors lost their entire savings to the scheme.

   Many cheated customers filed formal complaints with the bank.

   Similarfleeced

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