bribes
Cash for favors
Bribes are payments or favors offered to influence someone's actions, typically to get them to act dishonestly or against their duties: The official accepted bribes from contractors.
The singular bribe works as both noun and verb—to bribe someone is to offer such inducement.
Bribes range from cash to gifts to promises of future benefit.
The word carries inherent disapproval; people rarely describe their own payments as bribes.
Illegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- payoffsBenefits gained from effort
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- extortionObtaining through threats
collusion · racketeering · malfeasance · fraud · cronyism · nepotism · patronage · scandal
Additive reducing bitterness
- enticementSomething that attracts
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- carrotEdible orange taproot
- lureThing that tempts
persuasion · lobbying · deal-making · arm-twisting · quid-pro-quo · buyoff
Power to affect others
- cloutInformal power or punch
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
Something that attracts
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
- lureThing that tempts
- allurementQuality that attracts
- appealFormal review request
bait · snare · trap · come-on · offer · proposition · inducing · beckoning
Make unsteady or insecure
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
conspiracy · collusion · subterfuge · rigging · throwing · fixing
kickbacks
Illegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- payoffsBenefits gained from effort
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
extortion · collusion · racketeering · malfeasance · fraud · cronyism · nepotism · patronage · scandal · misconduct
sweetener
Additive reducing bitterness
- enticementSomething that attracts
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- carrotEdible orange taproot
lure · persuasion · lobbying · deal-making · arm-twisting · quid-pro-quo · buyoff
influence
Power to affect others
- cloutInformal power or punch
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
coercion · pressure · favors · sway · control · exploitation · access
enticement
Something that attracts
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
- lureThing that tempts
- allurementQuality that attracts
appeal · bait · snare · trap · come-on · offer · proposition · inducing · beckoning · compromising
destabilize
Make unsteady or insecure
infiltration · conspiracy · collusion · subterfuge · rigging · throwing · fixing
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, embezzlement, nepotism
- shady dealingsscams, swindles, cons, grifts, fraud
- dirty moneydirty money, ill-gotten gains, illicit funds, illicit gains, proceeds of crime
- ethics violationskickbacks, kickback, nepotism, cronyism, favoritism
- cheatingcheating, scams, cons, tricks, faking
- Traffickingdrug trafficking, trafficking, trafficker, drug smuggling, smuggling
bribessalaries
Fixed regular payments for work
taxes · official fees · fair compensation · dues · service fees
bribeshindrances
Things that obstruct progress
obstacles · impediments · roadblocks · barriers · red tape
bribesdonations
Gifts to organizations
charitable gifts · philanthropy · gifts · tips · gratuities
- 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
bribe, bribery, bribing, bribed, bribable, briber, unbribable, briberies, bribee