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 During a July 2007 interview with Pop Matters, Joe addressed the nepotism involved in his band getting the gig to open up for The Police. — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026 In an unstable industry with IP, nepotism and maybe even now artificial intelligence ruling supreme, Ridd and Boa have doubled down on emerging filmmakers with original stories. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 Two years into Bronny James’ NBA career, in the postseason spotlight, cries of nepotism will have to wait for the bench minutes the Lakers actually need from the 21-year-old guard. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 Unsurprisingly, whispers and accusations of nepotism surround Max’s appointment, with Leon Rice having led the program as head coach since 2010, and the father-son connection is undeniably part of why Max returned to Boise State. — Shaun Goodwin june 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nepotism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nepotism
  1. prejudice
  2. bias
  3. cronyism
  4. favoritism
Noun
  • Federal judge Aileen Cannon dismissed a lawsuit with prejudice on Monday, July 6, after poet Kimberly Marasco sued Swift, Aaron Dessner, Republic Records and Universal Music Group in February 2025, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Her initial lawsuit, filed in May 2024, was dismissed with prejudice in September 2025.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
Definition of prejudice
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Grok showed the strongest biases, highly favoring Catholics and Protestants while showing an aversion for Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baha’i and Hindus.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In fact, Smith has long argued that the NFL has overlooked Black candidates at those positions because of racial bias.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of bias
Noun
  • This is the wrong time for a baseball stadium — or anything that looks frivolous or smacks of cronyism.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2026
  • While no rules were broken, the revelations conflicted with Starmer’s portrayal of himself as an antidote to the cronyism displayed by successive Conservative leaders.
    — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
Definition of cronyism
Noun
  • Suddenly, a conversation about roof repairs somehow becomes a debate about fairness, favoritism and something that happened at Thanksgiving 10 years ago.
    — David Crown, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Goldstein remained with the band through the late-’90s/early 2000s recording of the album Chinese Democracy, often weathering accusations of favoritism toward one band member or another.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Definition of favoritism

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ne plus ultras
nepotism
Neptune
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Cite this Entry

“Nepotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nepotism. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nepotism

Nglish: Translation of nepotism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nepotism

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