1
as in bonuses
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 bribes
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 cumshaws
Noun
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To be sure, banks often make staffing decisions in the first quarter, around the time bonuses are due — and none of the executives this week linked their headcount reductions to AI.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026 -
Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith all signed deals with bonuses of at least $100 million.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Over time, the brother earned the trust of party loyalists and built close relationships with local security officers, aided by bribes.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
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Christopher and Joseph Ponzo — ex-Stoneham police officers — defrauded a company to obtain tens of millions of dollars of Mass Save funds through paying bribes and kickbacks to company employees.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cutting back on late-night screen scrolling pays surprising dividends too.—
Cheryl Russell,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
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Nareit said health care REITs distributed more than $7 billion in dividends in 2024.—
Jordan Rau,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Paula makes sure that their hall table is set with the preposterous gifts — exotic fruits, rare cuts of meat — that Agnes has received from potential suitors.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
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Here, visitors can gaze upon the icon of the Virgin Mary, which sits surrounded by gifts from those who come to pray.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cumshaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaws. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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