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
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Recent Examples of bribe
Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
In response, Amazon pushed back against the notion that its financial commitment was a bribe.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
The ruling also stands in stark contrast to the decision earlier this month by a different 7th Circuit panel, which abruptly reversed the May 2023 convictions of former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain, who were accused of orchestrating the plot to bribe the speaker.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Noun
Over time, the brother earned the trust of party loyalists and built close relationships with local security officers, aided by bribes.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
In response, Amazon pushed back against the notion that its financial commitment was a bribe.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Forest might have added a third European trophy in six years under him had opponents Anderlecht not bribed the referee for their semi-final in the 1983-84 UEFA Cup (today’s Europa League).
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
The ruling also stands in stark contrast to the decision earlier this month by a different 7th Circuit panel, which abruptly reversed the May 2023 convictions of former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain, who were accused of orchestrating the plot to bribe the speaker.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribe
Noun
-
Grace Backian, director of the Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center, said that’s largely because there’s no financial incentive for farmers to plant more.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
Most states have some sort of incentive in place to benefit EV buyers, including tax credits or rebates, or utility rate reductions, according to a 2023 report from the National Conference of State Legislators, a bipartisan nonprofit group for state legislators and their staff.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Though Mal tries to convince him that Ohm has returned home to America, Ohm is able to ring the honeymoon-suite bell and lure his friend upstairs.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
The department, officials told The Times, also has lost several deputies to other nearby departments, lured with bonuses and better pay.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
This has led many to believe that the fix for an uneven league isn’t a salary cap, but rather a salary floor that would force small-market teams to spend.—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
-
Six different fixes addressing various causes of texture loss such as black photos, along with additional QV testing on paintings and photos to catch previously unreported cases will also be implemented.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The people who can buy are increasingly the people who have someone to call.—
Blake O'Shaughnessy,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
And look, the only facts that distinguishes this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to the public.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Fiscal stimulus helped to buoy spending in the first quarter.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
-
Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes, and the existential problems that war presents often act as a stimulus to innovation.—
David Szondy
May 02,
New Atlas,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Thomas Hicks, 68, of Lakeland, faces numerous charges including human trafficking and using a computer to seduce a child.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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From the fiery lake of damnation, Lucifer rises as Satan to seduce humanity’s first parents, Adam and Eve, in the flawless Garden of Eden, triggering the Fall of Man and the loss of Paradise itself.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Most Sunday mornings, Charles Woods doesn’t need much motivation for his weekly 40-mile bike ride.—
Isabel Rivera,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
-
Asking a musician about their influences can elicit a boiler plate response revealing little about their mindset and motivations.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
His frame and traits are enticing.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Office renovations and conversions in Charlotte Post-COVID, office towers have to either entice people to come back to the cubicle or change uses.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribe. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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