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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bribe
Rebecca Boone, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Seven top staff members of the state Attorney General's Office send a letter to the agency's human resources director, accusing Paxton of accepting bribes and abusing the power of his office.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 May 2026
ABC News, 4 June 2026
Two months later, chairman Lord Triesman, who passed away earlier this year, was forced to quit after being recorded speculating about referees being bribed at the World Cup.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Noun
As a result, after the game, Rozier and his co-conspirators negotiated a discount on his bribe, cutting it from $100,000 to about $70,000, the superseding indictment said.
—Rebecca Boone, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Seven top staff members of the state Attorney General's Office send a letter to the agency's human resources director, accusing Paxton of accepting bribes and abusing the power of his office.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 May 2026
Verb
The indictment maintains that, as part of a criminal enterprise, Jones and Dowling carried out a large-scale covert scheme between 2010 and 2021 to bribe state officials and to illegally advance FirstEnergy’s financial interests alongside their own.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Two months later, chairman Lord Triesman, who passed away earlier this year, was forced to quit after being recorded speculating about referees being bribed at the World Cup.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribe
Noun
-
The best cornerback in the NFL, Patrick Surtain II, is on a four-year, $96 million contract but just earned a $5 million pay raise in 2026 with $5 million more in incentives tacked onto the 2027 season.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
-
Under the executive order, all tax incentives approved before July will continue.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
More casual apps lure users in with a free experience before asking for cash once they’re invested.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
-
At the same time, the chance to work with robotics has begun luring younger workers for whom the digital revolution and video games are second nature.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
County officials said the money would be used to repair roads, fix storm damage, maintain bridges and manage roadside vegetation.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Those reforms, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, stabilized Social Security for decades and were followed by the reelection of many of the lawmakers who backed them, a reminder that politically difficult fixes can be survivable.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Guy Curtis bought Seattle’s seminal grunge venue, the Central Saloon, in 1989.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
In some states, players can also buy tickets online.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The cerebral circuitry of the human brain—specifically the salience network, which is responsible for filtering stimuli—seems to be more active in individuals with misophonia.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
The ability to disconnect intentionally from these overwhelming stimuli—to reclaim one’s focus, clarity, and feeling of immediacy—has become rare and precious.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Young women being preyed upon and seduced by rapacious Hollywood producers, stars and studio heads is a tired cliché, but like all clichés, it is based on reality.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
Guinevere, just like Natalie from All My Children, has an evil sister who attempts to step into her life and seduce her husband.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Walken brings his signature idiosyncratic charm to his portrayal of Frank, whose motivations make for a fascinating web of contradictions.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
While others close to the president see personal motivations at work, the White House is leaning into the diplomatic benefit.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
But this disjointed medley, performed by Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty, offered little context for what is meant to be exciting or enticing about the show.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
-
Starter Mason Cook enticed Deiten Lachance into a 6-4-3 double play that scored the run.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribe. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
