1
as in bonus
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed
the clerk at Calcutta airport was clearly angling for a little cumshaw on the side
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bribe
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision
the captain slipped the customs official his customary cumshaw at the Port of Shanghai
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumshaw
Noun
-
Those who join now can use the code PCAMER26 by December 31, 2026, to earn up to 4,000 bonus Avios (Qatar Airways’s rewards currency) to use on upcoming flights, upgrades, and extra baggage allowances.—
Jamie Spain,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026 -
As a bonus, this setup offers plenty of storage for lanterns, decor, and more.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Netanyahu is charged with breach of trust, fraud and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy associates.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The casual acknowledgement of brushing off offers of bribes alarmed some Republican activists, who will endorse a candidate for governor at their state convention on May 16.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Our collective ethos guided us to develop our ecosystem equitably, ensuring that communities across the Quantum Prairie would reap dividends.—
David Awschalom,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
If assets in the estate generate income during probate—such as interest, dividends, or rental income—or if assets such as a home are sold in a later year, additional tax filings may be required.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The oversized gift was presented on April 28 in Washington, DC, during King Charles III and Queen Camilla's four‑day state visit to the United States.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cumshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumshaw. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
