bribe

see definition of bribe

nounpayoff to influence illegal or wrong activity
verbrequest silence, action, or inaction for money

Synonyms for bribe

noun payoff to influence illegal or wrong activity

Antonyms for bribe

blackmail

noun. intimidation for money; money to quiet informer

bought off

verb. bribe someone in order to receive a favor

buy off

verb. bribe someone in order to receive a favor

Word Origin & History

late 14c., "thing stolen," from Old French bribe "bit, piece, hunk; morsel of bread given to beggars" (14c., cf. Old French bribeor "vagrant, beggar"), from briber, brimber "to beg," a general Romanic word (Gamillscheg marks it as Rotwelsch, i.e. "thieves' jargon"), of uncertain origin; old sources suggest Celtic (cf. Breton breva "to break"). Shift of meaning to "gift given to influence corruptly" is by mid-15c.

Example Sentences forbribe

Would a Sunday-school picnic constitute a bribe worth mentioning?

"Maybe you could bribe Jim Wakely into giving something away," she suggested.

No bribe—and he was shameless in his offers—could wring more than that from her.

Then I tried to bribe them, and they ordered me out of the room.'

You, with the impudence of your class, think you can come to me and bribe me to betray my employer.

It's just like a woman, to take the bribe, and then be sorry for having taken it.'

Did you think you could bribe me with your gifts to tolerate your vileness?

But there lurks no bribe in the smell and beauty of the flower.

“But it was a bribe to get you to take them off,” laughed the Patient Aunt, wickedly.

Escovedo wrote me a letter that was little better than an attempt to bribe me.

bribe

Synonyms for bribe

Antonyms for bribe

More words related to bribe

bait

blackmail

bought off

buy off

corrupt

douceur