To deceive or cheat someone by hiding the truth or giving a false impression in order to gain advantage.
彼は取引相手をうまくごまかして、契約を有利に進めた。
He skillfully deceived the trading partner and pushed the contract in his favor.
子どもが宿題を写して先生をごまかそうとした。
The child tried to cheat by copying homework to fool the teacher.
彼女は事情をごまかして説明した。
She misrepresented the situation in her explanation.
To falsify or tamper with records, data, or facts — to doctor or misrepresent information.
実験データをごまかすのは絶対に許されない。
Falsifying experimental data is absolutely unacceptable.
会計報告を一部ごまかしていたことが発覚した。
It was discovered that parts of the accounting report had been doctored.
To evade or dodge (a question, responsibility, etc.), to gloss over a mistake or uncomfortable topic — to explain something away.
会議で難しい質問をごまかすため、彼は話題を変えた。
To dodge a difficult question at the meeting, he changed the subject.
暗い過去をごまかして新しい生活を始めた。
He started a new life while trying to gloss over his dark past.
上司の問いに具体的に答えず、ただごまかした。
He didn't answer his boss's question concretely and just evaded it.
To embezzle or pocket money/things — to misappropriate funds or assets.
会計係が会社の金をごまかしていたことが判明した。
It turned out that the accountant had been embezzling company funds.
少額ならごまかせるだろうと思っていたが、すぐにばれてしまった。
He thought he could skim a small amount and get away with it, but he was quickly found out.