as in squeezing
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
a school bully who was used to extorting lunch money from weaker kids
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extorting
The Barrio 18 and MS-13 gangs are rivals, battling for territorial control in Guatemala by extorting shopkeepers, transport workers and civilians.
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CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The couple allegedly asked customers’ family members to send original passports to them and then frequently refused to return the passports unless customers paid hundreds of dollars more, effectively extorting them, Ellison’s office said.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 22 Dec. 2025
Trump seems unconcerned that extorting his partners contravenes the principles of what was designed as a free-trade accord.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
On November 22, Russia’s National Guard said an organized crime group in Moscow had been arrested, accused of kidnapping war veterans and extorting money from them and their families.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
In addition, the embassy said travelers should be aware of road checkpoints, some set up by law enforcement and some set up by criminals with the goal of extorting money.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025
Now its 3,000 or so operators work mostly locally, extorting farmers and businessmen in the South.
—Elena Clavarino, Air Mail, 8 Nov. 2025
These groups are extorting fleeing civilians for safe passage, Saraf claims.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
He is also accused of extorting an unnamed person to collect gambling debts in 2023.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extorting
Verb
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Echoing similar concerns, Stefani’s spokesperson, Daniel Herzstein, said in a statement that a lower rent cap would risk squeezing landlords who already face rising costs.—
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But squeezing China out of Latin America will take far more than a single show of force, no matter how impressive.—
Verb
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This would likely mean seizing more resources inside Yemen—for example, by capturing the oil-rich governorate of Marib east of Sanaa—or by coercing Saudi Arabia into offering new financial concessions.—
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There were more damning allegations made by Burrowes against Diddy, which included Combs coercing Burrowes to make changes in Biggie’s record deal with Bad Boy to make the terms more lucrative and favorable for the label.—
Verb
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Customers receive equally exacting service.—
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Trump believes exacting tariffs can be a useful tool in prodding friends and foes on the global stage to bend to his will.—
Verb
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Squeeze out excess water without wringing the scarf.—
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As the complaining businesses are no doubt wringing their hands over the setback, shoppers are also bemoaning the havoc that tariffs have wreaked on their pocketbooks as the final week of holiday shopping ramps up.—
Verb
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That simple change would introduce real competition, allowing merchants to choose lower-cost options and forcing the dominant players to compete on price and service--just like any other market.—
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Jackson remains optimistic that Medicaid cuts will spur a public backlash against lawmakers, forcing Congress to reverse Medicaid cuts before additional layoffs are necessary.—
Verb
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Now the president is again pitching the idea that wresting control of Greenland away from Denmark could solve the problem.—
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Hopes for both lower interest rates and a solid economy have helped other areas of the stock market climb recently, wresting leadership away from the Big Tech and AI stocks that dominated the market for years.—
Cite this Entry
“Extorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extorting. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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