extortion
noun
ex·tor·tion
ik-ˈstȯr-shən 
1
: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property
especially
: the offense committed by an official engaging in such practice
2
: something extorted
especially
: a gross overcharge
Examples of extortion in a Sentence
He was arrested and charged with extortion.
six dollars for a cup of coffee is just plain extortion
Recent Examples on the Web
Baldoni last month filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively; her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of defamation and civil extortion.
—
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
Baldoni responded with a lawsuit of his own in January, suing Lively, Reynolds, their publicist and The New York Times, alleging defamation and extortion.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
After being sued by Lively on New Year’s Eve, Baldoni and crew sued the actress, Reynolds and their PR chief Leslie Sloane on January 16 in a $400 million defamation and extortion action.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
If Mexican drug cartels are hit with an FTO designation, U.S. companies that do any business with Mexican firms that pay extortion fees would immediately have to cut their ties with these firms or risk prosecution.
—Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 17 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for extortion 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
Baldoni responded with a lawsuit of his own in January, suing Lively, Reynolds, their publicist and The New York Times, alleging defamation and extortion.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
After being sued by Lively on New Year’s Eve, Baldoni and crew sued the actress, Reynolds and their PR chief Leslie Sloane on January 16 in a $400 million defamation and extortion action.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
If Mexican drug cartels are hit with an FTO designation, U.S. companies that do any business with Mexican firms that pay extortion fees would immediately have to cut their ties with these firms or risk prosecution.
—Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 17 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for extortion
Dictionary Entries Near extortion
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extortion. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
extortion
noun
ex·tor·tion
ik-ˈstȯr-shən
1
: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property
specifically
: the act or practice of extorting by a public official acting under color of office
2
: the crime of extorting
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share