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Definitions

bribery

[brahy-buh-ree] / ˈbraɪ bə ri /
NOUN
blackmail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bribe extortion
STRONG
exaction milking payoff protection ransom tribute
WEAK
hush money slush fund
NOUN
corruption
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crime exploitation extortion fraud graft malfeasance nepotism
STRONG
crookedness demoralization jobbery misrepresentation payoff payola racket shadiness shuffle skimming squeeze unscrupulousness venality
WEAK
breach of trust bribing fiddling fraudulency on the take profiteering shady deal
Antonyms
WEAK
cleanliness cleanness decency goodness honesty honor kindness pureness purification purity sterility truthfulness wholesomeness
NOUN
payola
Synonyms
STRONG
graft payoff
NOUN
villainousness
Synonyms
STRONG
bestiality crime crookedness demoralization depravity exploitation extortion fraud graft immorality jobbery malfeasance misrepresentation nepotism payoff payola perversion racket shadiness shuffle skimming squeeze turpitude unscrupulousness venality vice villainy wickedness
WEAK
breach of trust bribing fiddling flagitiousness fraudulency on the take profiteering shady deal
Antonyms
STRONG
justice virtue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Supreme Court in Madrid will judge them for alleged bribery, embezzlement, influence peddling, membership of a criminal organisation and misuse of confidential information.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The incident prompted an investigation into alleged bribery by Uber executives and a lawsuit from the victim, although neither led to civil or criminal penalties.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

It doesn’t just search for specific words; you can ask it to search for concepts like bribery.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

Li, a former Everton player who led the national team from 2019 to 2021, is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for bribery, after being sentenced in December 2024.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

“I know what a phone is for. And I know what bribery is for too. My room is worth way more.”

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Vocabulary lists containing bribery

2015 National Spelling Bee Words

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