as in prejudice
disapproving
the unfair practice by a powerful person (such as a politician) of giving jobs and other favors to friends
The mayor has been accused of cronyism.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cronyism
This move is uncomfortably reminiscent of China’s state capitalism, not to mention the attendant risks of cronyism.
—
Lael Brainard, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Some might say there was a lot of cronyism involved, and there definitely was, but the DJs at WHRB put a lot of work into promoting us on the show Record Hospital.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
One year after her appointment, Karki faced an impeachment motion from the ruling coalition after her bench overturned the government’s choice for police chief, a decision seen as a defense of meritocracy against political cronyism.
—Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
The absence of corruption, scandal, self-dealing and cronyism makes this a revitalizing break from real-world concerns, without in any way veering into sappy idealism.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Lael Brainard, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Some might say there was a lot of cronyism involved, and there definitely was, but the DJs at WHRB put a lot of work into promoting us on the show Record Hospital.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
One year after her appointment, Karki faced an impeachment motion from the ruling coalition after her bench overturned the government’s choice for police chief, a decision seen as a defense of meritocracy against political cronyism.
—Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
The absence of corruption, scandal, self-dealing and cronyism makes this a revitalizing break from real-world concerns, without in any way veering into sappy idealism.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cronyism
Noun
-
Pope Leo made an appeal for a world free from antisemitism, prejudice, oppression and persecution Wednesday before linking the message to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was observed the day before.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
What Rusbridger’s account leaves out is that the BBC has reproduced the prejudices of successive British establishments since its inception in the early twentieth century, whether by propagandizing against workers during the general strike of 1926 or by condemning the antiwar protests of 2003.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nine of the 13 survey respondents also expect a hawkish bias in the statement, with four predicting no change to the tone.—
Swati Pandey,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Align with what actually uplevels you, not what confirms bias, is rage bait, or just gives a dopamine hit.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Think of the major alternatives, which include popularity, wealth, cronyism, nepotism or a lottery system.—
Kenji Yoshino,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Attorney Tony McDonald, representing Davis as chair of the local Republican Party, told the judge that without that nepotism acknowledgement, her application was invalid and Davis, who is also an attorney by trade, was required to reject it.—
Eleanor Dearman
Updated January 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Following the money Hinojosa and Bell have tied Abbott’s private-school voucher push to a broader argument about favoritism, arguing the program steers public dollars to mostly Christian schools while benefiting wealthy contributors.—
Karen Brooks Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The letter details other claims of favoritism and disregard for recent board directives to curb spending, like attempting to hire for vacant positions and authorizing overtime expenditures despite the hiring and overtime freeze enacted in the board approved fiscal solvency plan.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cronyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cronyism. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
