1
as in bonus
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed
the clerk at Calcutta airport was clearly angling for a little cumshaw on the side
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bribe
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision
the captain slipped the customs official his customary cumshaw at the Port of Shanghai
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumshaw
Noun
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Police recruits are paid over $28 an hour with a $2,000 bonus at graduation.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Nov. 2025 -
The Nike contract included a further €158m as a signing bonus.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Over the summer, officials in Turkey — where the lawsuit says some of the allegedly fraudulent Drake streams originated — started investigating Spotify over several allegations, including bribes for playlist placement and bot streams distorting domestic charts.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
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Sliwa claims to have been offered ten million dollars, across seven bribes, to step aside.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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What the commercial stations won’t be able to replicate as well will be the soft-power dividends of the ISS.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
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In this market, investors may want to consider dividend stocks as a way to earn some income while helping stabilize their portfolio.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From a gift of Elizabeth Taylor’s ring, bestowed on Allura, by her cheating younger husband, to $40 million worth of trinkets that Liberty helps salvage from her Upper East Side client wanting a divorce.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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For small businesses, simplicity wins—a clear offer like ‘buy one, gift one’ or a free consult lowers the barrier for first-time buyers and gives them a reason to pick you over a big-box store.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cumshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaw. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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