as in lured
to influence someone with a bribe
meat inspectors were bribed, and the contaminated beef was sold to the public
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Recent Examples of bribed
According to the indictment, RCI executives bribed an auditor with the New York Department of Taxation and Finance to avoid paying over $8 million in sales taxes to New York City and the state.
—
Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
While a dog can be bribed with a squeaky toy and a pig would surely look at the camera when enticed with a sausage on a stick, cats are known for their admirably self-serving demeanors.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The scandal exposed how some wealthy families cheated and bribed to secure spots for their children at elite universities, sparking nationwide outrage over denied opportunities for more deserving students.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
In May, Coinbase revealed that cybercriminals had bribed a few of its overseas customer support agents to leak customers' personal data.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Reviewing fake CDLs experts say are sometimes issued by unscrupulous American trucking schools or bribed Mexican bureaucrats.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
But the vast majority of officials caught stealing, being bribed or taking kickbacks become footnotes in local history, with the cost of the graft passed on to taxpayers.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 22 Dec. 2024
As part of this scheme Da Ying Sze bribed TD Bank employees in order to deposit large amounts of cash –occasionally in excess of one million dollars in a single day —- into accounts not formally under his control.
—Steve Weisman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Even the execution guards were bribed to not shoot.
—Abc News, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2024
Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
While a dog can be bribed with a squeaky toy and a pig would surely look at the camera when enticed with a sausage on a stick, cats are known for their admirably self-serving demeanors.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The scandal exposed how some wealthy families cheated and bribed to secure spots for their children at elite universities, sparking nationwide outrage over denied opportunities for more deserving students.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
In May, Coinbase revealed that cybercriminals had bribed a few of its overseas customer support agents to leak customers' personal data.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Reviewing fake CDLs experts say are sometimes issued by unscrupulous American trucking schools or bribed Mexican bureaucrats.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
But the vast majority of officials caught stealing, being bribed or taking kickbacks become footnotes in local history, with the cost of the graft passed on to taxpayers.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 22 Dec. 2024
As part of this scheme Da Ying Sze bribed TD Bank employees in order to deposit large amounts of cash –occasionally in excess of one million dollars in a single day —- into accounts not formally under his control.
—Steve Weisman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Even the execution guards were bribed to not shoot.
—Abc News, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribed
Verb
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But to be honest, the 20th anniversary, in other people’s hands, would not have lured me back.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
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The men were lured into fighting under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts, a statement issued by South Africa’s presidency said.—
Reuters 16 hr ago,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Choudhary, a collector of contemporary art as well as Indian artifacts, considered a career in hospitality before he was seduced by the gems his family has traded for centuries.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
9 Nov. 2025
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Farrell plays John, the ambitious and chatty servant who is seduced by the mistress of the house (Jessica Chastain), as a nervous bundle of energy who becomes more agonized and frantic over the course of the film.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Africa’s leading banking groups are targeting DR Congo, enticed by one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies and the promise of a lucrative mining sector, despite the ongoing conflict in the country’s east.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Miami should have purged the roster even more, shipping off starters for draft picks, but apparently none of the bids enticed Ross and his minions, who are the individuals really calling the shots now.—
Omar Kelly
November 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Running Point actress was spotted shopping for holiday presents last December with a hands-free bag strapped across her body, and just one 12-second TikTok clip persuaded us to dole out some change on a purse that’s just like hers.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Black Cincinnatians persuaded the city to grant them 30 extra days.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As temperatures around the state continue to drop, you may be tempted to crank up your thermostat to battle the cold.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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That way, you aren’t tempted to doze on the couch or adult bed with the baby in your arms.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Notions had persisted that Brahe was poisoned to death with mercury, but later analyses of his bones and teeth disproved the idea.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
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There’s often an arch detachment where the singer tries to pretend as though they haven’t actually been poisoned by being online themselves.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Efforts to compete with Amazon during its ascent in the 2010s had department stores playing catchup on supply chain prowess and integrating stores with e-commerce—sometimes to the detriment of in-store experience.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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But the political tensions inevitably had an impact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Some people think today’s pro athletes are too wealthy to be corrupted.—
Danny Funt,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
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Files were easily lost or corrupted.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bribed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribed. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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