Synonyms for bribe
- noun
- verb
Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
- v. 1
To give a bribe to; specifically, to ask a person to do something against their original will, in exchange for some type of reward or relief from potential trouble.
She was accused of trying to bribe the jury into making false statements.
Related words
- Word family
- bribeproof bribable briber bribery
- Is a kind of
- gift payment quid pro quo
Choose the right word
Gift is now almost always used in the good sense, bribe always in the evil sense to signify payment for a dishonorable service under the semblance of a gift. In Scriptural language gift is often used for bribe.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- bribery The bribery scandal cast doubts on the government.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| bribe | rising | |
| bribery | steady | |
| inducement | falling | |
| douceur | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- buy1
- 6 letters
- grease1, payoff2, seduce2, payola3, suborn
- 7 letters
- premium3, corrupt2, bribery3, douceur
- 9 letters
- sweetener3, boodleize
- 10 letters
- inducement3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (payoff2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- pot-de-vin
- Deutsch
- Bestechungsgeld
- Català
- suborn