suborn
verb (used with object)
to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime
suborned
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past participleof suborn.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof suborn.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
subornverb (used with object)to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime
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.
Stanford’s former sailing coach pleaded guilty to conspiring with Singer, but no evidence has emerged that Singer suborned any coaches or officials at Harvard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2023
As universities are beaten into the shapes dictated by business, so language is suborned to its ends.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2021
National policy is suborned, on some issues, to the vetoes and powers of the larger union.
From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2018
Try saying something like that at one of those business-sponsored conferences where bullheaded billionaires and those whom they’ve effectively suborned are telling us we need to get much tougher with our children.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 27, 2017
He suborned Kaan’s eastern neighbor, Naranjo, which attacked Mutal’s former ally, Oxwitza’.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
