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
Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Prosecutors also alleged that, in return for that pressure campaign, Diamantis accepted $95,000 in bribes from Helen Zervas, an optometrist, and her fiancé, former state Democratic lawmaker Christopher Ziogas.
—Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
In 2012, county assessor John Noguez was charged with accepting bribes in return for lower property assessments, leading to a court battle that’s still going.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Washington accused Rubén Rocha Moya and other officials, including a senator, of protecting the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for bribes and electoral support.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Thao is accused of accepting bribes from Andy Duong and his father, David, including political favors and a $95,000 no-show job for Jones.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
It is alleged that some of the police officers received bribes from the winning bidders.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Over time, the brother earned the trust of party loyalists and built close relationships with local security officers, aided by bribes.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Christopher and Joseph Ponzo — ex-Stoneham police officers — defrauded a company to obtain tens of millions of dollars of Mass Save funds through paying bribes and kickbacks to company employees.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Fairley also intends to plead guilty in a separate NCAA point-shaving case in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania over allegedly recruiting players who would accept bribes to influence games, the documents showed.
—Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Prosecutors also alleged that, in return for that pressure campaign, Diamantis accepted $95,000 in bribes from Helen Zervas, an optometrist, and her fiancé, former state Democratic lawmaker Christopher Ziogas.
—Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
In 2012, county assessor John Noguez was charged with accepting bribes in return for lower property assessments, leading to a court battle that’s still going.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Washington accused Rubén Rocha Moya and other officials, including a senator, of protecting the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for bribes and electoral support.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Thao is accused of accepting bribes from Andy Duong and his father, David, including political favors and a $95,000 no-show job for Jones.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
It is alleged that some of the police officers received bribes from the winning bidders.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Over time, the brother earned the trust of party loyalists and built close relationships with local security officers, aided by bribes.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Christopher and Joseph Ponzo — ex-Stoneham police officers — defrauded a company to obtain tens of millions of dollars of Mass Save funds through paying bribes and kickbacks to company employees.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribes
Noun
-
Rethinking the tax code BofA said AI will increase pressure on governments to provide wage insurance, enhanced unemployment benefits, reskilling incentives, and tax reform to ensure the gains from AI don’t concentrate in too few hands.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
-
Provide state incentives for the expansion of private practitioners to take on 20% cliental of low-income, homeless and physically impaired patients to pay zero fees for services rendered.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Campaign officials cited spending well above $25 million, citing $28 million in television ad buys alone.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
The company operates 17 hydropower facilities on the Snake River and its tributaries, and also buys hydropower seasonally from 68 small-scale projects across its service area, according to Bowlin.—
Angela Palermo
May 7,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The stadium will need several alterations to accommodate the soccer team, including changes to the field, improvements on the HVAC system, flood and drainage repairs, and other structural fixes.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
But Pete Brown, Park’s communications director, told me Friday afternoon that the office is exploring ways to pay for fixes that don’t take 10 years, including the use of discretionary funds.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Spring’s warmer weather lures people outdoors – and into possible contact with ticks that spread Lyme disease.—
Lakshmi Chauhan,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Newly opened Fowlescombe Farm, a 450-acre estate in south Devon, England, where Tamworth piglets and Manx Loaghtan sheep roam free and wildflowers are encouraged to be picked, lures guests with the promise of slow living.—
Jen Murphy,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
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And two, baking soda is an indiscriminate weed killer that poisons the soil.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Borage An annual herb with bright bluish-purple flowers, borage entices important insects to the garden.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribes. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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