verb

suborn

suh-BORN/səˈbɔːrn/

To persuade someone to commit an unlawful or wrongful act.

The man suborns his accomplice with cash to break open the jewelry case.

A man offers cash to a reluctant accomplice while directing her to force open a locked jewelry display case; she begins levering its lock with a crowbar.

Etymology

Here “under” carries the sense “secretly”: the Latin compound meant not only equipping someone but also employing a secret agent or secretly inciting someone. This leads to persuading someone to act unlawfully, especially to give false testimony.

More examples

He offered cash to suborn a witness into lying under oath.
The gang suborned a guard to leave the gate unlocked.
She refuses to help suborn public officials.

Forms

suborn · suborns · suborned · suborning

subornation noun — The act of persuading someone to commit wrongdoing.

Similar words

bribe: Specifically involves offering something valuable to influence someone's behavior.
incite: Emphasizes stirring someone to action, often openly or forcefully.
induce: Means bringing about action without necessarily involving wrongdoing.