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
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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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Because of that, revenues are prone to volatility, hinging on capital gains from investments, bonuses to executives and windfalls from new stock offerings, and are notoriously difficult for the state to predict.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026 -
The Motion Picture Association pushed for 20%, plus 5% bonuses for filming in a disaster area or an enterprise zone.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Kimble pleaded guilty in 2019 to multiple federal offenses, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, healthcare fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, making false claims and offering kickbacks and bribes.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
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The family members either submitted to the indignities—the false testimony, the obscene bullet fees—or were asked for bribes as high as $7,000 to avoid consigning their relatives to mass graves.—
Laura Secor,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Josh Shapiro's complicated political calculus The approach has already paid some major dividends for Pennsylvania beyond the Amazon deal.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
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Finally, oil companies are judged by investors who often want cash returns, dividends, buybacks, and capital discipline.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Foreign language programs and a portal that tracks foreign gifts to universities have gone to the State Department.—
Alia Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
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Children do not necessarily equate love with volume of gifts, and many parents today are actively trying to reduce clutter, overstimulation, and consumerism.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cumshaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaws. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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