Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hush-money

noun
/hʌʃ ˈmʌni/
Definition
Payment made to keep someone from disclosing information, often to prevent embarrassment or harm.
Examples
  • The celebrity paid hush money to the tabloid to avoid scandal.
  • He was offered hush money to keep quiet about the incident.
  • Legal issues arose when the hush-money payments were revealed.
Meaning
Hush money is typically given to silence someone or stop them from revealing sensitive or potentially damaging information.
Synonyms
  • bribe
  • payoff
  • silencer