e-m-b-e-z-z-l-e
EMBEZZLE means to steal or fraudulently appropriate money or property entrusted to one's care, typically in a professional or fiduciary context.
30
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
To EMBEZZLE is to fraudulently appropriate funds or property that have been entrusted to one's care but belong to another. This white-collar crime involves a breach of fiduciary duty, distinguishing it from simple theft by the violator's legitimate access to the assets. Embezzlement requires three elements: a fiduciary relationship, ownership of assets by another party, and fraudulent appropriation. The crime often involves sophisticated schemes to hide the theft, from falsifying records to creating phantom vendors.Common embezzlement scenarios:
The word embezzle has a colorful etymology from Anglo-French enbesiler meaning "to steal, make away with," first recorded around 1400. The origin is uncertain but possibly from: - Old French em- (in) + besillier (to torment, destroy) - Or from besil (fraud, trickery) The word initially meant "to make away with" or "to cause to disappear." The specific sense of "fraudulently appropriate entrusted property" emerged in the 1540s as commerce became more sophisticated. The double-Z spelling solidified in the 17th century, making it valuable for word games.
Steal money fraudulently
Steal from specific source
Charged with the crime
Plan to steal funds
•The largest embezzlement in history involved $4.9 billion stolen from Punjab National Bank
•EMBEZZLE contains two Z tiles, worth 20 points in Scrabble before placement bonuses
•Studies show embezzlers typically steal small amounts over long periods before escalating
•The average embezzlement scheme lasts 18 months before detection
"The accountant embezzled funds by creating false invoices over five years."
"She was convicted of embezzling $2 million from the charity she founded."
Present
embezzle, embezzles
Past
embezzled
Gerund
embezzling
Noun
embezzlement, embezzler
Adjective
embezzled
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 30 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 5
EMBEZZLE is a Scrabble jackpot: - Two Z tiles = 20 base points - 8 letters perfect for bingo bonus (50 points) - Can build from EMBEZZL- if you have blank for second Z - Rare double-Z word opponents might miss - Look for triple word score opportunities
Embezzlement reflects society's trust-based systems and their vulnerabilities. From Dickens' clerks to modern cryptocurrency theft, embezzlement evolves with financial innovation.
Double Z in the middle
Starts with E not I
Ends with -LE not -AL
Explore anagrams and letter combinations from EMBEZZLE
Practice with our word tools and become a word game champion