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
Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
After a separate trial last year, a jury convicted Burke on four counts, including conspiracy and accepting a bribe.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 19 May 2026
Dan Brahmy, the CEO of the bot-detection firm Cyabra, compares this to a professional soccer league in which every club has secretly bribed a referee.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Noun
Adani, one of the world’s richest people, was accused in 2024 of paying massive bribes to ensure the project’s success.
—Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
After a separate trial last year, a jury convicted Burke on four counts, including conspiracy and accepting a bribe.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
Verb
Under Idaho law, threatening or bribing someone to alter their vote could lead to a citation.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 19 May 2026
Dan Brahmy, the CEO of the bot-detection firm Cyabra, compares this to a professional soccer league in which every club has secretly bribed a referee.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribe
Noun
-
Building more starter homes may be harder, since the financial incentives are to build more expensive homes.—
Allison Schrager,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
People also will receive help with family reunification, landlord incentives, case conferences, and finding safe parking.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Three All Saints Episcopal School students lured a fourth student to participate in a TikTok challenge this month that became a catastrophic assault, leaving the boy unconscious for several minutes, temporarily paralyzed and with fractured vertebrae, according to a lawsuit filed this week.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
-
Short selling can be an intellectually demanding approach to the market, and many inexperienced traders fall into a trap, lured by overvaluation and hype.—
David Capablanca,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The fix is a lead magnet so useful your reader prints it and pins it up.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Owners want more cost certainty and will almost certainly frame a cap-and-floor system as a competitive-balance fix.—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
In any case, Judy doesn’t buy it.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
1 June 2026
-
Follow Eva Longoria’s lead and buy the bestselling Plongeant, the sleek style with a plunging neckline.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Competitor Ross saw comparable sales jump a staggering 17%, beating expectations of 9%, and also attributed some of its outsize growth to extra stimulus.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
-
The Obama administration did spend $34 million from the $787 billion 2009 economic stimulus package — or less than four one-thousandths of 1% of the total package — to reconstruct the Reflecting Pool in a two-year project that wrapped up in August 2012.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
In the piece, Mead examines Monroe's legacy, and how her disarming beauty still holds the power to seduce today.—
Rebecca Mead,
Allure,
29 May 2026
-
That means seducing Paris Carver, Elliot's wife and Bond's ex, portrayed by Teri Hatcher.—
John Russell,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
No matter the motivation or trading strategy, going short is a bet that a stock will decline in price.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
Osuch said the ability to keep his future options open was his motivation.—
Cyril A. Reinicke,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Relief pitcher Toby Scheidt enticed Gavin Kelly into a fly ball to right field.—
Gary Bedore
May 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
-
For Sweeney, that means paying attention to the kinds of furniture pieces that sell well in your area and being nimble about adjusting the price to entice new buyers.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribe. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
