as in bribes
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision
the customs official let us know that he might be prepared to look the other way if an appropriate backhander was slipped into his palm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanders
bribes
Noun
-
All 14 of the ex-Antioch and Pittsburg officers to be charged have pleaded guilty or been convicted of some law violation, including participating in a college degree fraud scandal, accepting bribes, firearms violations and real estate fraud.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025 -
James claims that perks and bribes were allegedly in exchange for favorable treatment during the audits.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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
“Backhanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanders. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share