as in incentive
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision
that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to lure
to influence someone with a bribe
meat inspectors were bribed, and the contaminated beef was sold to the public
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bribe
Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Investigators say the players agreed to underperform in a game in exchange for bribe payments.
—Sam Crenshaw, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors allege that developers bribed officials to expedite building permits and approve projects.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Noun
Dillard pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Investigators say the players agreed to underperform in a game in exchange for bribe payments.
—Sam Crenshaw, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Then, in February of last year, Coral Gables criminal defense attorney David Macey was indicted along with Pagan on charges of bribing Costanzo to obtain confidential information about drug-trafficking suspects to recruit them as potential clients for his law firm.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors allege that developers bribed officials to expedite building permits and approve projects.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribe
Noun
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This isn’t shaping up as one of those years with a McDavid-level or even Bedard-level prospect waiting with the first pick, but in a way that’s even more incentive to tank for dead last, assuring no worse than a top-three pick in a year where that still might get you the best player.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Compared someone making monetary demands, a kidnapper looking to make a statement can be more dangerous because there is less incentive to keep the person alive.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The agency allegedly used Bank of America accounts to lure young women with fake modeling offers, while financial records suggest the bank was aware of these suspicious connections, according to plaintiff’s claims.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
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On Thursday, Trantalis said Tunnel Top Plaza was in dire of need of a shade structure to lure more people to the area.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Health workers had neither an answer nor a fix.—
Amy Maxmen,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Your precise eye fixes friction early by making adjustments that prevent snags and give your bonds room to blossom.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The child may use the money without penalty to help pay for college or buy a first home.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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Nightmare fuel that won’t make anyone rush out to buy a grooming kit.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His campaign focuses on national security and economic stimulus.—
GRANT PECK,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party won a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house of parliament, as voters gave a resounding endorsement of her right-wing agenda, which includes fiscal stimulus.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pine seduced Roper away from Corky [Roper’s fixer, played by Tom Hollander, who was killed off in season one].—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
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Since the dawn of time, the romance of railways has seduced poets, spellbound novelists, and dealt directors the perfect hand for capturing fleeting friendships, illicit affairs, and all manner of crimes and capers.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In any case, despite the motivations behind it the mutiny in the studio turned into a party.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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While seeking a limerent object is a good case study in unconscious motivation, perhaps the best modern example of this phenomenon in practice is the cell phone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Eric Patrick, 31, pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom to attempting to entice a 15-year-old, whom Patrick and his husband, Richard Kowalczyk, met on Grindr, a dating app for gay men, according to Patrick’s plea agreement.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
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Part of what makes Joomra Pillow Slippers enticing is their waterproof design.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribe. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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