Collusively

Acting in a secret or cooperative manner to deceive, defraud, or otherwise act against the interests of a third party, typically for personal or mutual benefit. It implies a hidden agreement or understanding, where parties work together, often illegally or unethically, to achieve a common goal that is detrimental to others. The word suggests a conspiracy, implying a lack of transparency and a deliberate intent to manipulate or exploit a situation or system. It signifies a betrayal of trust, fairness, or established rules. The actions carried out are often planned and orchestrated behind the scenes, with the aim of circumventing regulations, gaining an unfair advantage, or achieving an outcome that would be impossible through legitimate means.

Collusively meaning with examples

• The companies were found to have collusively fixed prices, artificially inflating costs for consumers and reaping enormous profits at their expense. Investigations revealed a network of secret meetings and coded communications. The collusion resulted in significant financial penalties and reputational damage for the involved entities.
• During the bidding process, the construction firms were suspected of collusively submitting inflated bids, essentially guaranteeing that they would win the contract and maximizing their profits. This prevented other competitive contractors from getting a fair chance. The lack of fair pricing was quickly noticed by regulatory boards.
• The former government officials were accused of collusively diverting public funds into private accounts. The evidence showed a pattern of illicit transactions. There was a lack of oversight during these years. The officials faced charges including corruption and conspiracy.
• The rival sports teams were alleged to have collusively decided the outcome of the game in order to manipulate the league standings. This meant that a team would be getting into the playoffs. This raised ethical questions about fair play and integrity.
• The competing banks were accused of collusively manipulating interest rates to gain market control. The resulting unfairness was an attempt at manipulation. The lack of competitive practices undermined financial stability and negatively impacted borrowers.