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
Relevance
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.
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Recent Examples of bribe
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Christopher and Joseph Ponzo — ex-Stoneham police officers — defrauded a company to obtain tens of millions of dollars of Mass Save funds through paying bribes and kickbacks to company employees.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 31 Mar. 2026
Saudi Arabia may still be able to get its tankers through the Red Sea by bribing the Houthis, Axios reports.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Noun
While the operation was ongoing, Kirkman paid Hughes nearly $20,000 via Cash App to smuggle in the contraband and provided the cash for Shackelford’s $5,000 bribe.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Christopher and Joseph Ponzo — ex-Stoneham police officers — defrauded a company to obtain tens of millions of dollars of Mass Save funds through paying bribes and kickbacks to company employees.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order pausing new investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits citizens and companies from bribing foreign entities to advance their business interests.
—Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 31 Mar. 2026
Saudi Arabia may still be able to get its tankers through the Red Sea by bribing the Houthis, Axios reports.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribe
Noun
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For years, states have used incentives and tax breaks to compete for data centers, sought for their massive investment in construction and equipment.—
Kevin Hardy,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
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The goal was to stimulate economic development and job creation in distressed areas around the country by providing tax incentives to investors who would back the projects.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Like Delta, United has thrived by luring premium customers, especially the business crowd that pays extra to reserve at the last minute, while American has struggled in attracting that highly lucrative tier.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
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As one of Iowa's oldest state parks, Maquoketa Caves has been luring visitors to its depths since the 1860s.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has responded with stop-gap fixes, from a temporary fuel-tax cut to a charm offensive in the Gulf.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
21 Apr. 2026
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Mechanical fixes are possible, but confidence, poise and recognition must be the foundation of any rebound.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The company regularly buys brand-new devices and tears them to pieces.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Across the country, retailers and low-income Americans are facing complex new rules overhauling what millions of people can buy with food stamps.—
Rachel Roubein,
Washington Post,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The upbeat growth at the start of 2026 has reduced pressure for additional stimulus, prompting economists to push back expectations for interest rate cuts.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
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This time, economists say the job market and consumer spending are weaker, and there are no large government stimulus checks being issued to spur demand.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In an industry often seduced by scale and swagger, Claire offers something far more enduring.—
Julie Lin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
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In the film Queen Kelly, produced in 1928-1929, a convent girl is abducted and seduced by a prince betrothed to a mad queen, an event that drastically changes the course of her life.—
Karen Leigh,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Mount Carmel pitcher Jake Matise received a piece of information Friday morning that provided him with some extra focus and motivation to take into his start later in the afternoon.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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It certainly is affected by profit motivation.—
Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the choices will be enticing.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to the immediate employment boost for tradespeople—including construction workers, electricians, and plumbers—local governments have been enticed by the impressive tax revenues on offer.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribe. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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