nepotism

noun

Definition of nepotismnext
as in prejudice
disapproving the unfair practice by a powerful person of giving jobs and other favors to relatives Nepotism by the owner has hurt the company because the new executives are not qualified for their jobs.

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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 nepotism Some wondered if nepotism would decide that quarterback battle; Jason was not one of them. — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The goal of such a system, often used in combination with elections, was to prevent excessive influence and nepotism, and shore up trust in the system of government and those who wielded power through it. — Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026 Yet, Stella Lefty’s rise has been hotly debated — conversations about nepotism, originality, and TikTok’s influence on the music industry have taken over. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 Afterward, the internet went wild with accusations of cheating, nepotism, and more. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nepotism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nepotism
  1. prejudice
  2. bias
  3. cronyism
  4. favoritism
Noun
  • The permit application from J7 Ready Mix was denied with prejudice during a hearing in Austin.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
  • All the prejudices my characters are designed to expose haven’t just lingered—they’ve metastasized.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of prejudice
Noun
  • Because this was a scoping review, which summarizes existing research rather than testing a treatment directly, the researchers could not make clinical recommendations or fully assess the risk of bias.
    — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Although much of his lineup leaned heavy-handed or overly undone, the most notable bias looks were the ones designed for ease, modernity and lightness.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of bias
Noun
  • That set off the wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption and cronyism during renovation work at the station.
    — JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • That set off a wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption, cronyism and rampant graft during renovation work at the station.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of cronyism
Noun
  • The government responded to her filing and courtroom outburst by asking that she be removed from the case citing hostility toward the government and favoritism for the plaintiffs.
    — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The same relationships that make effective representation possible also make political favoritism difficult to distinguish from legitimate government.
    — Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of favoritism

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nepotism
Neptune
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Cite this Entry

“Nepotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nepotism. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nepotism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nepotism

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