backhanders

plural of backhander, British
as in bribes
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision the customs official let us know that he might be prepared to look the other way if an appropriate backhander was slipped into his palm

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backhanders His mining deals in Congo, NGOs alleged, relied on schemes like kickbacks and backhanders. Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanders
bribes
Noun
  • Kimble pleaded guilty in 2019 to multiple federal offenses, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, healthcare fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, making false claims and offering kickbacks and bribes.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
  • The family members either submitted to the indignities—the false testimony, the obscene bullet fees—or were asked for bribes as high as $7,000 to avoid consigning their relatives to mass graves.
    Laura Secor, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Backhanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanders. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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