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.
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Recent Examples of cronyism
But even where governments did embrace reforms, cronyism and corruption ensured that protectionism endured.
—
Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Musk had pushed to install his friend Jared Isaacman as head of the agency—a move that stank of cronyism.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
The metastasizing litigation now pits an outgoing mayor with waning popularity against a feisty city council and state officials including the attorney general, with both sides slinging accusations of cronyism.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2025
The filing comes days after four high-ranking former New York City police officials filed a separate suit alleging that Adams doled out patronage promotions and a culture of cronyism in the NYPD, according to the Associated Press.
—James Powel, USA Today, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Musk had pushed to install his friend Jared Isaacman as head of the agency—a move that stank of cronyism.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
The metastasizing litigation now pits an outgoing mayor with waning popularity against a feisty city council and state officials including the attorney general, with both sides slinging accusations of cronyism.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2025
The filing comes days after four high-ranking former New York City police officials filed a separate suit alleging that Adams doled out patronage promotions and a culture of cronyism in the NYPD, according to the Associated Press.
—James Powel, USA Today, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cronyism
Noun
-
While her wit, charm and determination bring her attention, her collapsing health, social prejudice and family tensions conspire against her.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
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The kind having to do with allegations that concertgoers were not warned about uncomfortably hot venues used in Madonna’s Celebration Tour concert that Crawshaw-Sparks had dismissed with prejudice on behalf of the pop star and Live Nation.—
Claudia Rosenbaum,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
East Coast bias accusations may come in here, and Aaron Judge will promptly swat them 400 feet.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Health insurers have argued that AI eliminates human error and bias and will save the health care system money.—
Lauren Sausser,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Can’t anybody here play this game, the game in question being nepotism?—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
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Lest you be concerned, there's no unmerited nepotism here.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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During the toddler years many children begin expressing favoritism.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
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Success in combat is less subjective than success in many other activities and therefore leaves less room for favoritism, rent seeking, and old-fashioned sandbagging.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cronyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cronyism. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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