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extort
[ ik-stawrt ]
verb (used with object)
- Law.
- to wrest or wring (money, information, etc.) from a person by violence, intimidation, or abuse of authority; obtain by force, torture, threat, or the like.
- to take illegally by reason of one's office.
- to compel (something) of a person or thing:
Her wit and intelligence extorted their admiration.
extort
/ ɪkˈstɔːt /
verb
- to secure (money, favours, etc) by intimidation, violence, or the misuse of influence or authority
- to obtain by importunate demands
the children extorted a promise of a trip to the zoo
- to overcharge for (something, esp interest on a loan)
Derived Forms
- exˈtortive, adjective
- exˈtorter, noun
Other Words From
- ex·torter noun
- ex·tortive adjective
- nonex·tortive adjective
- unex·torted adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of extort1
Word History and Origins
Origin of extort1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
The man says the lawyer tried to extort a payout in return for not identifying him as a sexual abuser tied to the hip-hop mogul.
Authorities said he used the images to shame girls and extort high school victims by threatening to post more compromising content if they did not send more photos.
The criminal groups extort migrants who cross the southern state on their way north to Mexico's border with the United States.
Mr Combs strenuously denied the allegations and accused Ventura of trying to extort him.
County Sheriff’s employees helped a woman in China extort her former business partner for $100 million in disputed shares.
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More About Extort
What does extort mean?
Extort means to use violence, threats, intimidation, or pressure from one’s authority to force someone to hand over money (or something else of value) or do something they don’t want to do.
Extort is commonly used in this literal way, but it can also be used in a few more general or figurative ways.
It can mean to overcharge someone for something, as in If you ask me, the textbooks companies are extorting us by coming out with new editions every year.
It can also mean to obtain through relentless and unreasonable demands, as in The kids are good at extorting treats from their grandparents just by constantly asking.
These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion. More generally, the word extortion refers to the act of extorting. Such actions can be described as extortionary. A person who engages in extortion can be called an extortionist or an extortioner.
Example: The mob regularly extorts money from small business owners through intimidation.
Where does extort come from?
The first records of the word extort come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin extortus, meaning “wrenched out,” from the verb extorquēre, “to wrest away,” from torquēre, “to twist.”
When a mobster walks into a shop and says, “Nice place you got here—it would be a shame if something happened to it,” they’re threatening to make bad things (destruction and violence) happen unless you pay them not to do those bad things. That’s extortion. People extort in a lot of different ways, such as through intimidation and threats like these or through violence. Blackmail is a specific type of extortion. Sometimes, people extort money or favors from other people by abusing their power or authority. All of these kinds of extortion are serious crimes that can carry a lengthy prison sentence.
The word extort is also often used in a more general way. It’s especially used in the context of politics to criticize politicians for using methods that are similar to or that some consider to be extortion.
What’s the difference between bribery and extortion? Extortion is often the act of requiring a bribe from someone, or forcing someone to provide money or favors in some other corrupt way. Bribery typically refers to the act of bribing or the exchange itself.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to extort?
- extortion (noun)
- extortive (adjective)
- extortionist (noun)
- extortionary (adjective)
What are some synonyms for extort?
What are some words that share a root or word element with extort?
What are some words that often get used in discussing extort?
- scheme
- racket
- racketeering
- shakedown
- blackmail
- theft
- bribery
- threat
- intimidate
- pressure
- force
- demand
- pay
What are some words extort may be commonly confused with?
How is extort used in real life?
Extort is often used in a legal context, but it can also be used in a figurative way.
Don’t be fooled by a phone scammer posing as a CISA representative to threaten targets for supposed questionable behavior in an attempt to extort money. Report these calls to your local FBI office. https://t.co/NIQJG1JSWv #Cyber #Cybersecurity #InfoSec
— US-CERT (@USCERT_gov) November 30, 2019
It's an extremely tendentious argument saying that the six final SH stories still under copyright showed SH to be a different character than the previous ones and so that characterization is under copyright. It's completely wrong but they're trying to extort.
— Sascha Segan (@saschasegan) June 27, 2020
Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused the central government of extorting the common people by raising fuel prices https://t.co/5ZGQLsrsfc
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) June 29, 2020
Try using extort!
Which of the following actions could be used as a way to extort money from someone?
A. blackmail
B. intimidation
C. threats
D. all of the above
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