bribe 1 of 2

noun

ˈbrīb How to pronounce bribe (audio)
Definition of bribenext
as in incentive
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bribe

2 of 2

verb

as in to lure
to influence someone with a bribe meat inspectors were bribed, and the contaminated beef was sold to the public

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 bribe
Noun
Other businesses in economic sectors such as health, infrastructure and automobiles were forced to pay bribes and fees to companies linked to Khamenei and his family to continue to operate. — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Azevedo was in the car at the restaurant when the alleged payment was paid, prosecutors said, and he was later told by Andy Duong that the article wouldn’t be published as a result of the bribe. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
Verb
And so the taboo there is, yeah, politicians could bribe rich people. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 Retained for criminal defense work, Dwyer bribed an NYPD officer to access a confidential federal law enforcement database, obtaining personal information on government witnesses. — David Niccolini, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribe
  1. incentive
  2. lure
  3. fix
  4. buy
  5. stimulus
  6. seduce
  7. motivation
  8. entice
Noun
  • The merger threatens to push production further abroad amid an already ongoing exodus, as well as to other states with cushy tax incentives.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
  • When compensation is tied to conversion, the incentive structure can encourage aggressive and off-brand marketing tactics.
    — Ivan Doruda, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of incentive
Verb
  • At the crossroads of civilizations, this island nation has long lured design buffs with its walled villages, fairy-tale architecture, and mix of Arab and European influences.
    — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Attempts to lure Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha have proven fruitless, with neither appearing likely to advance at this stage.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of lure
Noun
  • Lawmakers in Sacramento introduced a budget fix on Thursday that helps film producers by adjusting a state cap on tax credits.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Its preferred fixes include rapid deployment of natural-gas turbines and fuel cells, colocating data centers with operating nuclear plants, and converting former Bitcoin-mining sites that already have access to power infrastructure.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of fix
Verb
  • Schwab investors continued to buy in July despite a choppy market backdrop, lifting the Schwab Trading Activity Index, known as STAX, for a third straight month and bringing it to its highest level since January 2022.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Through a federal program known as 340B, created in 1992 to subsidize the treatment of low-income patients, hospitals that treat a certain percentage of low-income patients can buy drugs at a steep discount, while charging insurers or patients more.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of buy
Noun
  • The third is to develop novel variations of your stimuli or your benchmark items in order to test robustness and generalization.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The country on Monday reported disappointing retail sales and industrial production growth for July, fueling hopes for more rate cuts and stimulus.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulus
Verb
  • And to seduce Hannah… Every girl should get to seduce Hannah Einbinder.
    — Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Nevertheless, don’t be seduced by someone else (or even yourself), because things are not clear today.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of seduce
Noun
  • Matthew Temple said her performance (as well as countryman Sam Short’s in the men’s 400) served as motivation heading into his 100 butterfly win.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Jordan Patrick Haase, 40, was convicted of second-degree murder, but acquitted of the gang-motivation allegation.
    — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of motivation
Verb
  • Offering a 35% incentive aimed at stiffening up jobs here and enticing post-production to relocate to the Golden State, AB 2319 is racing toward a vote in the state Senate by next week once the bill is in final shape.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Marvel Studios began moving its production operations to Georgia, enticed by the state’s uncapped tax credits that could be used for actors’ salaries.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of entice

Browse Nearby Words

bribable
bribe
bribed
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Cite this Entry

“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribe. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bribe for Spanish Speakers

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