Synonyms of bribes

bribes 1 of 2

noun

plural of bribe

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

• incentives
• fixes
• motivations
• backhanders
• sops
• inducements
• payoffs
• encouragements
• lures
• temptations
• kickbacks
• boodles
• boosts
• persuasions
• stimuli
• seductions
• baits
• flatteries
• cumshaws
• stimulations
• slush funds
• enticements
• incitements
• provocations
• spurs
• goads
• instigations
• traps
• allurements
• baksheeshs
• snares
• decoys
• turn-ons

bribes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bribe

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

• buys
• lures
• seduces
• poisons
• corrupts
• entices
• has
• persuades
• squares
• tempts
• pays off
• provokes
• gets at
• prostitutes
• debauches
• oils the hand of
• motivates
• induces
• baits
• spurs
• depraves
• perverts
• greases the hand of
• traps
• taints
• leads on
• abases
• subverts
• tampers (with)
• dishonors
• debases
• profanes
• demeans
• goads
• allures
• defiles
• warps
• fixes
• degrades
• stimulates
• beguiles
• snares
• flatters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bribes

Noun

Rotterdam’s Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has become central to a local corruption scandal, due to the conduct of civil servants who allegedly accepted bribes to grant exorbitant construction contracts for public work. — News Desk, Artforum, 31 Aug. 2026

In another scheme, former Commerce City Manager Edgar Pascual Cisneros provided $45,000 in bribes to Pacheco to secure a permit for another marijuana company and was promised $235,000 as part of the deal, prosecutors said. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors said a corruption network operated from 2008 to 2018, collecting bribes equal to 4% of the value of the project carried out by Sinohydro. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors said Santana was paid thousands in bribes for smuggling contraband into the facility between May 2024 and June 2025. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

But the judge also noted Krneta’s dual role in facilitating the corruption of Tobolski, both paying bribes and collecting extortion payments from other contractors on the then-mayor’s behalf. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Other businesses in economic sectors such as health, infrastructure and automobiles were forced to pay bribes and fees to companies linked to Khamenei and his family to continue to operate. — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Federal prosecutors have long claimed that Thao accepted bribes from Andy Duong and his father, David, including political favors and $95,000 toward a $300,000 no-show job for Jones. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

Security analysts speculate that many are willing to talk about their bribes to politicians, in hopes of reducing their sentences. — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Verb

In one of the film’s most madcap and darkly comedic moments, Linda bribes her daughter with the promise of a pet hamster — who turns out to be a biter, desperate to escape its box. — Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025