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
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.
—Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Among them was an apparent decade-long fraud involving bribes to museum employees, reusing tickets multiple times, and splitting up large groups.
—semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
In 2012, the former governor, Mario Villanueva, pleaded guilty in a US federal court to laundering millions of dollars in narco-bribes.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Years later Och-Ziff, too, would plead guilty to paying bribes in several African countries, including Congo.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
In all, Tobolski, who was also a Cook County commissioner, admitted to accepting more than a quarter of a million dollars in bribes or extortion payments over the years.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors say participants in the Midas scheme squeezed nuclear company Energoatom’s contractors for bribes to complete projects, including structures to protect energy facilities from Russian airstrikes.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
The former head of the NYPD School Safety division attempted to steer lucrative city contracts to a Florida businessman in exchange for bribes that included cash payments, luxury hotel stays and Broadway tickets, federal officials said Thursday.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Prosecutors have accused Thao and her romantic partner Andre Jones of accepting political bribes from father-and-son businessmen David and Andy Duong, who hold Oakland’s recycling contract and had sought to win taxpayer dollars for a local housing venture.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.
—Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Among them was an apparent decade-long fraud involving bribes to museum employees, reusing tickets multiple times, and splitting up large groups.
—semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
In 2012, the former governor, Mario Villanueva, pleaded guilty in a US federal court to laundering millions of dollars in narco-bribes.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Years later Och-Ziff, too, would plead guilty to paying bribes in several African countries, including Congo.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
In all, Tobolski, who was also a Cook County commissioner, admitted to accepting more than a quarter of a million dollars in bribes or extortion payments over the years.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors say participants in the Midas scheme squeezed nuclear company Energoatom’s contractors for bribes to complete projects, including structures to protect energy facilities from Russian airstrikes.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
The former head of the NYPD School Safety division attempted to steer lucrative city contracts to a Florida businessman in exchange for bribes that included cash payments, luxury hotel stays and Broadway tickets, federal officials said Thursday.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 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
-
Another reason is that in many European leagues, a large share of broadcasting revenue comes from viewers’ pay-TV subscriptions, negating some of the incentives behind sweeping ad rollouts.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Plano city leaders later agreed to give AT&T $20 million in incentives and a lengthy property tax rebate for the firm to build its new global headquarters.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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China buys large amounts of oil from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East – which have been affected by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jennifer Pak,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2026
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Formed in 1985, The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit environmental organization that buys at-risk land with high conservation values for the purpose of turning it over to long-term ownership dedicated to environmental preservation.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All of these fixes take just a few minutes or hours to improve drainage and prevent soggy lawns.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac are all getting a new update with bug fixes and support for those purchasing an expensive new Apple monitor.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once a sleepy fishing village, Rockport is growing, but still lures in anglers, artists, families, and nature lovers who like the slower pace.—
Pam LeBlanc,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Jamaica Jamaica lures visitors with its share of beautiful beaches.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 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
-
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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Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 12 Mar. 2026.
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