as in incentives
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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as in buys
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 bribes
Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
According to the Cristosal report, government officials now operates with criminal logic, charging desperate relatives hefty bribes in exchange for access to information, visits, or the improvements in detention conditions.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
They were charged variously with hacking the voicemail accounts of politicians, athletes, and entertainers, and paying bribes to police officers.
—Nick Davies, Air Mail, 30 Aug. 2025
She also is accused of obtaining 80 million won in bribes and valuables from the Unification Church in 2022, in return for her support for the organization.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
In 2014, Mikulich worked on an investigation into thousands of unnecessary worker’s comp back surgeries that netted the former owner of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, as well as a former state senator who accepted bribes to help keep the scheme running.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
In 2024, federal prosecutors charged Menendez with using his influence as a senator to help the government of Qatar with questionable real estate development deals in exchange for lavish gifts and other bribes.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors allege she was involved with more than $75,000 in bribes while serving as Adams' chief adviser.
—ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Zhao eventually admitted to accepting nearly $15,000 in bribes for sending sensitive but unclassified military information to his Chinese handler.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Spagnuolo is very clear about supposed bribes paid by pharmaceutical companies in the context of purchases by Andis, to the tune of 5 to 8 percent, which were funneled directly into the pockets of the Menems and Karina.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
According to the Cristosal report, government officials now operates with criminal logic, charging desperate relatives hefty bribes in exchange for access to information, visits, or the improvements in detention conditions.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
They were charged variously with hacking the voicemail accounts of politicians, athletes, and entertainers, and paying bribes to police officers.
—Nick Davies, Air Mail, 30 Aug. 2025
She also is accused of obtaining 80 million won in bribes and valuables from the Unification Church in 2022, in return for her support for the organization.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
In 2014, Mikulich worked on an investigation into thousands of unnecessary worker’s comp back surgeries that netted the former owner of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, as well as a former state senator who accepted bribes to help keep the scheme running.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
In 2024, federal prosecutors charged Menendez with using his influence as a senator to help the government of Qatar with questionable real estate development deals in exchange for lavish gifts and other bribes.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors allege she was involved with more than $75,000 in bribes while serving as Adams' chief adviser.
—ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Zhao eventually admitted to accepting nearly $15,000 in bribes for sending sensitive but unclassified military information to his Chinese handler.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribes
Noun
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These centers offer further incentives to tech companies looking for enterprise customers.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Further billions are earmarked for technology upgrades, partnerships with state and local law enforcement, and retention incentives for ICE personnel.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Matt ultimately decides to go with another director and purposefully buys Scorsese's script — meant to be his final film — with the sole intention of killing the project.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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When the lifelong football fan buys a stake in the Toronto Argonauts, who go on to win the Canadian Football League’s version of the Super Bowl, there’s even more travel and responsibilities.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
No easy fixes and no tidy endings here.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
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What’s Being Done Federal and private efforts are ramping up, though often as short-term fixes.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Designed in China and fueled by kits sold or rented to threat actors around the world, these attacks are disguised as unpaid toll, undelivered package or motoring offense lures.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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About an hour ferry ride from Milazzo, Vulcano lures visitors with its active volcano, Gran Cratere, and open-air mud baths just steps from the port, where bathers slather on the mineral-rich goodness before rinsing in the sea.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The structure is illustrated below, with one player positioned on the byline and another level with the penalty area to form a triangle that entices opponents out to defend.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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China also has its Tianwen-1 orbiter, which carries a high-resolution camera comparable to that of MRO.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Butterhead Butterhead lettuce has a small head with round leaves.—
Lauren O'Connor,
Health,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bribes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribes. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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