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
-
Another bonus is the large, classy gold buttons, which add a chic touch and will complement the other metals in my jewelry collection.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026 -
On the other hand, the system will reward top performers with bonuses worth up to 300%.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bolden pleaded not guilty on April 11, 1997, to taking bribes.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In exchange for bribes, members of the Venezuelan National Guard loaded the cocaine onto the plane.—
Jay Weaver
January 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
It’s also been suggested that the dividends arrive in a form other than a check.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
12 Jan. 2026
-
To become a member, a company must have increased its dividend payout for at least 50 consecutive years.—
Jeff Marks,Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The families exchanged Christmas cookies as a parting gift.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Target even launched its own chatbot dedicated to helping consumers find holiday gifts.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cumshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaw. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
