peculate

P3E1C3U1L1A1T1E1

verb

To embezzle.

Similar
defalcateembezzlemisappropriatemalversate
OriginLatin pecūlātus →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

verbpeculate (third-person singular simple present peculates, present participle peculating, simple past and past participle peculated)

present singular third person peculates · participle present peculating · participle past peculated · past peculated

  1. rareTo embezzle.

    Synonyms: defalcate, embezzle, misappropriate

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo embezzle.

Similar
defalcateembezzlemisappropriate

More synonyms by meaning

verbappropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use

Similar
embezzledefalcatemisappropriatemalversate
Broader
stealrip offrip
Also see
defalcateembezzlemisappropriatesteal

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinpecūlātus
  2. Englishpeculate

From Latin pecūlātus, past participle of pecūlor (“defraud, embezzle”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

peculate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peculate

MLA

“peculate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peculate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “peculate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peculate.

Source: peculate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.