bribe
Pay for silence
A bribe is money or something else of value given to influence someone's actions, especially to make an official act corruptly: The judge accepted bribes from defendants.
The verb bribe means to offer such inducements: They tried to bribe the inspector.
Lighter uses describe small rewards for cooperation: I bribed the kids with ice cream to behave.
Illicit political gain
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- payolaBribes for airplay
- backhanderSecret illicit payment
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
malfeasance · cronyism · nepotism · collusion · fraud · scandal · sleaze · venality
Reward encouraging action
- sweetenerAdditive reducing bitterness
- enticementSomething that attracts
- lureThing that tempts
- carrotEdible orange taproot
inducement · temptation · allurement · sop · grease · gratuity · consideration · reward
Violating moral standards
- immoralContrary to ethical principles
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
shady · venal · tainted · compromised · disreputable · unprincipled · wrongdoing · illicit
Obtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
intimidation · threat · leverage · complicity · omerta · suppression · coercion · payoff
graft
Illicit political gain
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- payolaBribes for airplay
- backhanderSecret illicit payment
embezzlement · malfeasance · cronyism · nepotism · collusion · fraud · scandal · sleaze · venality · swindle
incentive
Reward encouraging action
- sweetenerAdditive reducing bitterness
- enticementSomething that attracts
- lureThing that tempts
carrot · inducement · temptation · allurement · sop · grease · gratuity · consideration · reward · perk
unethical
Violating moral standards
- immoralContrary to ethical principles
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
underhanded · shady · venal · tainted · compromised · disreputable · unprincipled · wrongdoing · illicit · illegal
extortion
Obtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- silenceTotal lack of sound
cover-up · intimidation · threat · leverage · complicity · omerta · suppression · coercion · payoff
influence
Power to affect others
corrupt · compromise · seduce · fix · rig · tamper · lobby · oil · suborn · nobble
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, embezzlement, nepotism
- Money Gainsbonus, salary, wage, tip, tips
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- dirty moneydirty money, ill-gotten gains, illicit funds, illicit gains, proceeds of crime
- dirty tacticsdirty trick, dirty tricks, dirty pool, foul play, cheap shot
bribefee
Payment for service
salary · wage · earned income · fair compensation · merit bonus
bribepunishment
Penalty for an offense
penalty · deterrent · disincentive · sanction · fine
- bribery scandalCorrupt payment controversy
- bribery chargesCriminal accusations of paying for favors
- bribe moneyPayment for corrupt cooperation
- bribe takingAccepting illicit payments
- bribery caseTrial involving illegal payments
bribery, bribing, bribes, bribed, bribable, briber, unbribable, bribee, unbribed