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
Relevance
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
Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Federal prosecutors in South Florida later charged him with conspiracy to launder money and pay bribes to Venezuelan officials.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Anderson finished up her stretch in federal prison for accepting $7,000 in bribes last November.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Do is serving a five-year federal prison sentence for accepting more than $550,000 in bribes to direct his share of the COVID funds to certain charities, primarily one that employed his daughter, Rhiannon.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Mar. 2026
In January, federal prosecutors accused 39 college-basketball players across 17 Division I teams of taking bribes from gamblers to underperform.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 bribes per game, and Smith paid players after successful bets, according to court documents.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
In exchange for the bribes, Gillespie removed several of Erny's financial obligations to the city.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
For that reason, most college athletes probably remain as susceptible to tempting bribes as those who preceded them as college athletes before the NCAA withdrew its opposition to NIL deals in 2021.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
By then the city had already paid $11 million in settlements and $20 million to outside law firms over nine years to defend cases involving Watts, who led a crew of tactical officers accused of framing innocent people who wouldn’t pay bribes.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Federal prosecutors in South Florida later charged him with conspiracy to launder money and pay bribes to Venezuelan officials.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Anderson finished up her stretch in federal prison for accepting $7,000 in bribes last November.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Do is serving a five-year federal prison sentence for accepting more than $550,000 in bribes to direct his share of the COVID funds to certain charities, primarily one that employed his daughter, Rhiannon.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Mar. 2026
In January, federal prosecutors accused 39 college-basketball players across 17 Division I teams of taking bribes from gamblers to underperform.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 bribes per game, and Smith paid players after successful bets, according to court documents.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
In exchange for the bribes, Gillespie removed several of Erny's financial obligations to the city.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
For that reason, most college athletes probably remain as susceptible to tempting bribes as those who preceded them as college athletes before the NCAA withdrew its opposition to NIL deals in 2021.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 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
-
Some have looked to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s development arm for incentives.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For brands, variable changes tied to product design and material choices could create financial incentives to reduce environmental impact.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of the sources said over 850 have been used so far in the conflict, roughly nine times the number of Tomahawks the Pentagon buys each year on average.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Comedian Matt Rife buys home in Rhode Island.—
Katie Landeck,
The Providence Journal,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
San Diego’s budget crisis is expanding already-long backlogs for streetlight repairs, sidewalk fixes, graffiti removal and requests for stop signs and speed bumps — and things are expected to get even worse.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The rocket and spacecraft returned to the launch pad on March 20 after having missed out on launch opportunities in February and March that required it to be rolled back for fixes at the Vehicle Assembly Building.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kociba and other team leaders, including executive chief engineer Tony Roma, flaunted the Grand Sport’s carnivorous roar at Spring Mountain Motor Resort in Nevada, where roughly 10 miles of desert track lures approximately 4,500 Corvette owners each year for performance-driving instruction.—
Lawrence Ulrich,
Robb Report,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Just around the corner, the hotel’s compact fitness centre lures even the least fitness-enthusiastic guests, thanks to knockout treadmill views extending to the bay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 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
-
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
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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
-
Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribes. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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