have been cheated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have been cheated' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone being deceived or taken advantage of. For example: "John felt as if he had been cheated when he discovered he had paid twice the amount for the item than he had expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have been cheated!

The Guardian

"Many of us have been cheated.

The Economist

"They have been cheated and betrayed".

The New Yorker

"There is a feeling that we have been cheated".

The New York Times

"They have been cheated and betrayed," West wrote.

The New York Times

Photographers say they, too, have been cheated by the company.

The New York Times

I FEEL I have been cheated by George.

The New York Times - Arts

But they could not plausibly claim to have been cheated.

The Guardian - Business

"I think we have been cheated," he said.

The Guardian

Jorg Weigelt, a second-generation dealer, claims that even discerning collectors have been cheated.

The Economist

"They have been cheated by their leadership and their institutions," said Ms Frazer.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been cheated" to describe a past experience of deception or unfair treatment. If the deception is ongoing, consider using present tenses like "are being cheated".

Common error

Avoid using "have been cheated" when describing a future event or a hypothetical situation. Use the correct tense to accurately convey the timing of the deception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been cheated" functions as a passive voice construction within the past perfect tense. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has experienced the action of being deceived or defrauded by someone or something else. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase communicates a past experience with present implications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been cheated" is a grammatically sound and prevalent way to express a past experience of deception, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its passive voice construction emphasizes the recipient of the action, communicating a sense of injustice or victimization. While frequently found in News & Media, the expression maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. For alternative phrasings, consider "were deceived" or "were taken advantage of", tailoring your choice to the specific nuance you want to convey. When employing this phrase, ensure correct tense usage to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were deceived

Focuses on the act of deception itself, rather than the resulting feeling of being wronged.

were taken advantage of

Highlights the exploitation aspect of the situation.

were swindled

Implies a financial trickery or fraud occurred.

were defrauded

Specifically indicates a legal or financial deceit.

were conned

Highlights the manipulative nature of the deception.

were double-crossed

Suggests betrayal by someone trusted.

were bilked

Specifically means to be cheated out of money.

were ripped off

Suggests being overcharged or sold something of low value.

were hoodwinked

Emphasizes the cunning and trickery used in the deception.

were bamboozled

Implies confusion and bewilderment as a result of the deception.

FAQs

How can I use "have been cheated" in a sentence?

You can use "have been cheated" to express that someone experienced being deceived or treated unfairly in the past. For example: "The customers felt they "have been cheated" by the company's misleading advertising."

What's the difference between "have been cheated" and "were cheated"?

"Have been cheated" implies the action happened at an unspecified time in the past but is relevant to the present, while "were cheated" refers to a completed action in the past with no present relevance.

What can I say instead of "have been cheated"?

Alternatives include "were deceived", "were swindled", or "were taken advantage of", depending on the specific context of the deception.

Is it correct to say "have been cheating" instead of "have been cheated"?

No, "have been cheating" means someone has been actively deceiving others, while "have been cheated" means someone has been the victim of deception.