extort
Americanverb (used with object)
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Law.
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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.
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to take illegally by reason of one's office.
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to compel (something) of a person or thing.
Her wit and intelligence extorted their admiration.
verb
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to secure (money, favours, etc) by intimidation, violence, or the misuse of influence or authority
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to obtain by importunate demands
the children extorted a promise of a trip to the zoo
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to overcharge for (something, esp interest on a loan)
Usage
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.
Related Words
See extract.
Other Word Forms
- extorter noun
- extortive adjective
- nonextortive adjective
- unextorted adjective
Etymology
Origin of extort
First recorded in 1525–1500; from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre, equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + torquēre “to twist”; tort ( def. )
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
