1
as in bonus
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed
the clerk at Calcutta airport was clearly angling for a little cumshaw on the side
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bribe
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision
the captain slipped the customs official his customary cumshaw at the Port of Shanghai
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumshaw
Noun
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Their salaries and bonuses differed to those offered to Russian soldiers, and even varied between the recruits.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026 -
Many new tax breaks aren't automatic, including a tax break on tips, overtime, car loan interest or a bonus for those 65 and older.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The 20-month sentence imposed on Kim was a surprise after independent counsel Min Joong-ki called for a 15-year prison term on three charges, including stock price manipulation, political funding law violations and accepting bribes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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Investigators say the players agreed to underperform in a game in exchange for bribe payments.—
Sam Crenshaw,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Experts have worried that this dynamic could lead to a phenomenon referred to as the liar’s dividend, in which bad actors use the claim that authentic media is AI-generated in order to create distrust and avoid accountability.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
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Still, cost estimates for the checks from three nonpartisan groups all showed that the dividend payments could cost more than what tariffs bring in over the course of a year.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Rather, anyone exceeding the gift-tax threshold in a single year must file the gift tax return form, and that excess amount counts against their lifetime exclusion amount.—
Christine Benz,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Gracie Greenlaw of Fort Collins is now home and thriving after receiving the gift of organ donations in 2025.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cumshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaw. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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