as in incentives
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
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as in buys
to influence someone with a bribe
meat inspectors were bribed, and the contaminated beef was sold to the public
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bribes
Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
In January, federal prosecutors accused 39 college-basketball players across 17 Division I teams of taking bribes from gamblers to underperform.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 bribes per game, and Smith paid players after successful bets, according to court documents.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
In exchange for the bribes, Gillespie removed several of Erny's financial obligations to the city.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
For that reason, most college athletes probably remain as susceptible to tempting bribes as those who preceded them as college athletes before the NCAA withdrew its opposition to NIL deals in 2021.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Rhiannon Do received most of the bribes via a high-paying job at Viet America Society and $350,000 for a down payment on a $1 million North Tustin home.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Clase and Ortiz also allegedly received bribes or kickbacks for their participation.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors have accused Thao and her romantic partner Andre Jones of accepting political bribes from father-and-son businessmen David and Andy Duong, who hold Oakland’s recycling contract and had sought to win taxpayer dollars for a local housing venture.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Jones was federally charged in 2022 with agreeing to take bribes from a red-light camera company executive in exchange for protecting the company from adverse legislation in Springfield.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
In January, federal prosecutors accused 39 college-basketball players across 17 Division I teams of taking bribes from gamblers to underperform.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 bribes per game, and Smith paid players after successful bets, according to court documents.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
In exchange for the bribes, Gillespie removed several of Erny's financial obligations to the city.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
For that reason, most college athletes probably remain as susceptible to tempting bribes as those who preceded them as college athletes before the NCAA withdrew its opposition to NIL deals in 2021.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Rhiannon Do received most of the bribes via a high-paying job at Viet America Society and $350,000 for a down payment on a $1 million North Tustin home.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Clase and Ortiz also allegedly received bribes or kickbacks for their participation.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors have accused Thao and her romantic partner Andre Jones of accepting political bribes from father-and-son businessmen David and Andy Duong, who hold Oakland’s recycling contract and had sought to win taxpayer dollars for a local housing venture.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
In one of the film’s most madcap and darkly comedic moments, Linda bribes her daughter with the promise of a pet hamster — who turns out to be a biter, desperate to escape its box.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bribes
Noun
-
The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are providing about $375,000 in local tax incentives.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
-
State law restricts the city’s ability to offer certain housing incentives and prohibits rent control.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Other stories include a brave school bus driver who keeps the kids safe in a whiteout snowstorm, a woman who saves all her wedding dresses, two speculative fiction pieces about a woman who buys insurance to spend time in an afterlife as pure thought, and one involving school shooting.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Federal authorities had previously investigated Chapman in 2021 for straw purchases, when someone buys a gun for a person who can't get it legally themselves.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some short-term fixes weaken customer trust or limit growth.—
Fazila Shahid,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
-
With misinformation rife and many turning to alternative sources for their news, politics and history fixes, the BBC is faced with a significant challenge, and big ticket swings such as today’s commissions are what the broadcaster considers its answer.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Travis Chicago Style, one of the Magic City’s oldest food trucks, lures fans with their gloriously messy burgers and hot dogs.—
Bob Carlton,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In the episode, Eilish portrayed the leader of a women’s empowerment cult that lures the main character, Dre (Dominique Fishback), into her charming clutches.—
Annie Harrigan,
Billboard,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
-
The film follows the deliciously immoral, widowed Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who maneuvers, deceives and seduces her way through London and across her relatives' country estates in an effort to find a wealthy husband for herself and her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark).—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bribes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bribes. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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