Thesaurus results for BACKHANDERS

backhanders

noun

plural of backhander, British

as in bribes

something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision the customs official let us know that he might be prepared to look the other way if an appropriate backhander was slipped into his palm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of backhanders Kane’s backhanders have been replaced by Bedard’s one-timers. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 23 July 2026 His mining deals in Congo, NGOs alleged, relied on schemes like kickbacks and backhanders. — Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanders

bribes

Noun

In another scheme, former Commerce City Manager Edgar Pascual Cisneros provided $45,000 in bribes to Pacheco to secure a permit for another marijuana company and was promised $235,000 as part of the deal, prosecutors said.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Prosecutors said a corruption network operated from 2008 to 2018, collecting bribes equal to 4% of the value of the project carried out by Sinohydro.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of bribes

Browse Nearby Words

backhander

backhanders

backhands

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Backhanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanders. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of backhanders

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes