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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For each of the past two school years, for example, CMS has spent $750,000 year on bonuses for especially effective high school math teachers.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026 -
Outside the welcome bonuses, these are some of the best credit cards for students and for earning cash back.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Nguyen, who won Do’s seat after his resignation, said the money should be used to specifically support residents who were deprived of services funded by the $10 million in pandemic relief money that Do had directed to nonprofits after receiving bribes.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
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Although Blatter himself was not charged in the investigation, his regime collapsed under the weight of hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes for TV rights and other spoils, and he was soon banned from international football for ethical breaches.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Catering to this underserved audience is clearly paying dividends.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
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Many unshortable companies stopped paying dividends, and Citadel trades that had involved paying for those dividends up front piled up losses.—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Vaccination is one of the greatest gifts humanity has ever given itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The declaration, in honor of the billionaire philanthropist whose gifts boosted arts, science, education and cultural causes and more across Los Angeles for decades, marks a collaboration between the County of Los Angeles and the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cumshaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaws. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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