as in stealing
dishonest activity in which people with power (such as political leaders) use their position and influence to get money and advantages
The newspaper published a series of articles exposing graft in the city government.
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as in to tie
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of graft
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
The beau ideal of local graft was Hall’s boss, Fate Thomas, the Davidson County sheriff.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
If the tree is grafted, ensure that the graft union (the swollen point on the trunk) remains above the soil line.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for graft
Noun
Trees started from grafts usually bloom within 3 to 5 years.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
The beau ideal of local graft was Hall’s boss, Fate Thomas, the Davidson County sheriff.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Trends like it are too fleeting to support the kind of mythology that The Moment tries to graft onto it.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
If the tree is grafted, ensure that the graft union (the swollen point on the trunk) remains above the soil line.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for graft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for graft
Noun
-
Critics singled out her performance as scene-stealing.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
-
By this token, the politician who steals scraps of another’s rhetoric (even if the actual stealing is performed by speechwriters) is derided as if he had been found watching pornography.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The least common dates are March 22 and 24, tied with nine instances apiece.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Raynaud finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, who rallied from a 16-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter before the Hawks staged a 14-2 run to pull away.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Earlier volunteer claims cited by the South China Morning Post had suggested possible theft linked to the dog meat trade, but those claims were based on speculation with no witnesses.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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How Good Intentions Fueled a False Story Earlier volunteer claims cited by the South China Morning Post had suggested possible theft linked to the dog meat trade, but those claims were based on speculation with no witnesses.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For the last 10 years, his focus has been affixed to the NBA.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Holloway, 21, was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Safiullah Manzoor, 43, of Walnut Creek, who was arrested March 11, is charged with a felony count of embezzlement over time.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The welfare scandal came to light in 2020 when the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, John Davis, was indicted on fraud and embezzlement charges alongside several others, including DiBiase's brother, former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bake on the middle rack of the heated oven until the top is puffed and lightly golden and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
During the procedure, a catheter, or tiny flexible tube, is inserted into a blood vessel and snaked into the heart to view the coronary and/or pulmonary arteries up close.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nastasa has been arrested 38 times in New York City, with charges including robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, grand larceny, threat by phone and criminal contempt.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The play, like the movie, is loosely based on a robbery that took place in 1972, on a boiling-hot August day, when an eccentric, deep-in-debt Vietnam veteran named John Wojtowicz entered a Chase bank in Brooklyn with a gun and two accomplices, hoping for a quick score.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The day began with introductions in a garage attached to the gym.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The suspects then drove away with the ATM attached to the vehicle, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Graft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/graft. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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