as in prejudice
disapproving
the unfair practice by a powerful person (such as a politician) of giving jobs and other favors to friends
The mayor has been accused of cronyism.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cronyism
Tokayev has also announced a major audit and restructuring of Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, including new personnel recruiting and procurement procedures intended to diminish cronyism, which is believed to be valued at $69 billion and to control at least 55 percent of the country’s assets.
—
Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2022
The University of Illinois Chicago recently ranked Illinois as the third worst state for bribery, fraud and cronyism in the public sector, and ranked Chicago as the worst metropolitan area.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Saturday Night, one of the livelier films from 2024, offers a glimpse at TV hubris and yet the secrets of show business (nepotism, cronyism) remain hidden.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Jan. 2025
Decades of cronyism and sanctions have stifled entrepreneurship, leaving businesses hesitant to invest in a coercive and opaque environment.
—Karam Shaar, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2022
The University of Illinois Chicago recently ranked Illinois as the third worst state for bribery, fraud and cronyism in the public sector, and ranked Chicago as the worst metropolitan area.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Saturday Night, one of the livelier films from 2024, offers a glimpse at TV hubris and yet the secrets of show business (nepotism, cronyism) remain hidden.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Jan. 2025
Decades of cronyism and sanctions have stifled entrepreneurship, leaving businesses hesitant to invest in a coercive and opaque environment.
—Karam Shaar, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cronyism
Noun
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Adopt a zero-tolerance approach: Document every incident thoroughly with legal experts and witnesses, distinguishing valid concerns from smear campaigns, false claims or prejudice.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The premium crime show mixes whodunnits with explorations of social issues, including class differences, prejudices, workplace dynamics, and identity.—
Georg Szalai,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Another mentioned a different kind of bias potentially at play: the grudge theatrical stalwarts still hold against Netflix.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
22 Feb. 2025
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Combs lawyers argue the law has a history of racial bias and rarely results in prosecution for white people.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That disease is called nepotism, a pervasive affliction that transcends gender, reinforcing a broad spectrum of biases.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Jones’ father was one of the state’s most powerful machine Democrats who often batted away allegations of nepotism and famously gave a boost to the budding political career of Barack Obama, who rose from the Illinois Senate to eventually become president.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For instance, Ford's pardon of Nixon was intended to prevent further national division but was perceived by many as an act of political favoritism, leading to a significant drop in Ford's approval ratings.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Read More: How Israel and Its Allies Lost Global Credibility If Trump’s favoritism for Israel put the two-state solution into cardiac arrest, the Israel-Hamas war of 2023-24 placed it on life support.—
Peter L. Hahn / Made by History,
TIME,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cronyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cronyism. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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