In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the word that is similar in meaning (synonym) to the given word: Hoodwink.

Introduction / Context:
This synonym question checks your understanding of verbs related to cheating and deception. The word hoodwink is slightly old fashioned but still used in modern English to describe tricking someone, especially by making them believe something that is not true. You must find the option that is closest in meaning to cheating or deceiving, rather than simply being secret or illegal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: Hoodwink.
• Options: Defraud, Illicit, Secret, Stare.
• Hoodwink is a verb that means to deceive or trick someone.
• We are looking for the option that also describes a dishonest act against someone.

Concept / Approach:
To hoodwink someone is to mislead or cheat them, often by false stories or by hiding the truth. Defraud means to cheat someone in order to get money or something of value, which is a more specific type of deception. Illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or not allowed; secret is an adjective or noun referring to hidden information; stare is a verb meaning to look fixedly. Of these, only defraud shares the core meaning of cheating or tricking, so it is the best synonym in this set.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of hoodwink: to deceive, trick or mislead someone, often so that you can benefit at their expense. Step 2: Examine Defraud. Defraud means to cheat someone out of money, property or rights by using dishonest methods. This fits well within the same family of meanings as hoodwink. Step 3: Examine Illicit. Illicit describes something that is not allowed by law or social rules, such as illicit trade. It does not itself describe the act of tricking a person. Step 4: Examine Secret. Secret describes things that are hidden or not revealed, but secrecy can exist even without deception; it is more about concealment than cheating someone directly. Step 5: Examine Stare. Stare means to look at something or someone with eyes wide open for a long time, and is unrelated to dishonesty or trickery. Step 6: Therefore, Defraud is the closest synonym among the options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Place the options into a sentence: The salesman tried to hoodwink the customer with false promises can be rephrased as The salesman tried to defraud the customer with false promises, especially if money is involved. Both sentences describe cheating. Replacing hoodwink with illicit or secret would not work grammatically, and replacing it with stare would be absurd. This test confirms that defraud matches both usage and meaning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Illicit describes the status of an activity under law or norms, but does not specify the act of deceiving a particular person.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be tempted by illicit because many fraudulent acts are illicit, but synonym questions require you to match parts of speech and core meanings. Hoodwink is a verb, defraud is a verb, and both involve cheating people. Illicit and secret are adjectives that describe qualities of actions or information, not the dishonesty itself. Remember to check not just whether words appear in similar contexts, but whether they share the same essential meaning and grammatical behaviour.

Final Answer:
The word similar in meaning to Hoodwink is Defraud.