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
The state attorney general was accused of accepting bribes and abusing his office to help a political donor whom the FBI was investigating. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors accused Smith and at least 26 other named defendants of wagering millions of dollars and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to players in bribes. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
In the action movie, the cops usually have to bribe the person with access to the surveillance tool with cookies and booze to run a search without a warrant, right? — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 Men shouted abuse from car windows or tried to bribe him with money, drugs, even girlfriends. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 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
  • New discoveries matter only if companies have the incentive and capital to bring them to market.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some may question whether these procedures are used too often, whether the evidence supporting them is strong enough, or whether financial incentives influence their use.
    — Antje M. Barreveld, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of incentive
Verb
  • For film, the roadmap covers support for luring large-scale location shoots, backing for international co-productions built on Japanese IP and tougher anti-piracy measures.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Bolsonaro made a tough-on-crime approach the cornerstone of his campaign and pledged to bring down food costs while Lula, trying to lure undecided voters, has invested in costly incentives.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of lure
Noun
  • Wordfence also warned that the fix can’t be installed using automatic updates, so site owners need to find out who is responsible for updating PHP to apply the patch manually.
    — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
  • If that’s the case, consider turning off your Google Home speaker for the foreseeable future and turning it on for short periods in the coming weeks to see whether the most recent fixes have reached your device.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of fix
Verb
  • Customers filed lawsuits alleging Bacelar was buying dogs on the cheap from breeders, then misrepresenting them as rescues and charging high adoption fees, The Times reported.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Concurrent with the new building, the museum bought a painting by Chicago native Irving Petlin and a photograph by Dawoud Bey.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of buy
Noun
  • China’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter thanks to the country’s powerful export machine, with domestic consumption still lagging and the authorities showing little interest in fiscal stimulus.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Visual stimuli produced more activity in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulus
Verb
  • Will Stewart be seduced into the path of corruption by using Sinestro’s emotionally tainted battery, or steel himself against ill influences and continue to blaze his own trail as Earth's sole protector for the time being?
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Armani’s languid silhouette soon seduced red- and blue-blooded men the world over.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of seduce
Noun
  • In many instances, a nature lead might find that their underlying motivation is at odds with their employer’s, causing friction and making their — suddenly outsized — remit difficult to fulfil.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But Spoelstra insisted that wasn’t a source of motivation to begin this season against Ball’s new team.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of motivation
Verb
  • Emirates, which has nearly returned to its prewar capacity, is trying to entice more connecting travelers on long-haul flights to make a stop in Dubai.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The 17-year-old said there is a lot of peer pressure to vape, and the product flavors and designs are enticing for teens.
    — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 21 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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