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
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The indictment alleges the drug trafficker then paid monthly bribes to the anti-drug director in addition to $100,000 for each flight transporting cocaine to ensure its safe passage — a portion of which was shared with Flores, Maduro’s wife.
—Jay Weaver
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Then there had been a car to buy, bribes to pay, a school uniform and supplies to purchase as Mohammed, the oldest child, began his education.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Flores is accused of brokering a meeting between a large-scale drug trafficker and the director of Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office and allegedly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Flores is accused of brokering a meeting between a large-scale drug trafficker and the director of Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office and allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in bribes, per the outlet.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
In the Oakland case, prosecutors say Thao accepted bribes from the Duongs in the form of political favors and a $95,000 no-show job for Jones.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Protesters who spoke with Reuters railed against the extortion and violence common in Michoacán, where lemon and avocado farmers are often forced to pay exorbitant bribes to drug trafficking groups.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Sliwa claims to have been offered ten million dollars, across seven bribes, to step aside.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Bolden pleaded not guilty on April 11, 1997, to taking bribes.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The indictment alleges the drug trafficker then paid monthly bribes to the anti-drug director in addition to $100,000 for each flight transporting cocaine to ensure its safe passage — a portion of which was shared with Flores, Maduro’s wife.
—Jay Weaver
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Then there had been a car to buy, bribes to pay, a school uniform and supplies to purchase as Mohammed, the oldest child, began his education.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Flores is accused of brokering a meeting between a large-scale drug trafficker and the director of Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office and allegedly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Flores is accused of brokering a meeting between a large-scale drug trafficker and the director of Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office and allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in bribes, per the outlet.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
In the Oakland case, prosecutors say Thao accepted bribes from the Duongs in the form of political favors and a $95,000 no-show job for Jones.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Protesters who spoke with Reuters railed against the extortion and violence common in Michoacán, where lemon and avocado farmers are often forced to pay exorbitant bribes to drug trafficking groups.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Sliwa claims to have been offered ten million dollars, across seven bribes, to step aside.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribes
Noun
-
The latest changes include financial incentives for appropriate downtown commercial-to-residential conversion projects, including a 100% waiver of building and construction taxes and a 50% reduction of park impact fees for the first 500 units, as the office market continues to struggle.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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It was unlocked because complexity was removed, incentives were aligned, and capital was forced to reprice assets independently.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The couple also buys certain items in bulk from an organic food supplier, spending an average of about $300 a month on staples like rice, oats, olive oil, nuts and cheese.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
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Luminia would pay for the equipment, then CEA buys the power and delivers it to customers.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Apple issued fixes in mid-December and warned users to update.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The first laser fixes each particle’s position with extreme precision, placing it into a superposition of possible paths.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The film frankly depicts the extreme sub-dom relationship that Erika lures Elliot into, peppered with Araki’s trademark playful-surrealism while committed to a certain, refreshing explicitness.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Jan. 2026
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Jimenez’s movement lures Matthijs de Ligt up the pitch, stretching the right side of United’s defence, with Leny Yoro already in an advanced position to defend Iwobi.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
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The film follows the deliciously immoral, widowed Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who maneuvers, deceives and seduces her way through London and across her relatives' country estates in an effort to find a wealthy husband for herself and her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark).—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
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Instead of a warning event, Expeditions imagines the historical fall that corrupts the Earth.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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For example, a suet cake with mealworms attracts bluebirds, and adding fruit entices mockingbirds, says Stewart.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
16 Dec. 2025
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While Summer most likely has tonnes of toys and a dog bed, there’s something about cardboard boxes that entices pets.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This previously-$30 set of Merino wool socks already has an excellent value, but the new price point is even sweeter.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
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The bakery has two trailers on the property that are used for housing and as a test kitchen for the bakers.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribes. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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