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
Buzbee was sued this week by an anonymous plaintiff somehow linked to Combs who accused Buzbee and his firm of extortion.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
The John Doe is being represented by powerhouse law firm Quinn Emanuel and is suing for civil extortion and infliction of emotional distress.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Tren de Aragua grew out of the prison system in the central state of Aragua in Venezuela and became one of the most violent groups in that country, focusing on extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
In a stunningly short amount of time, a picture from a private moment can be stolen and disseminated to the public; this has played out in the growing number of cases of hacking, extortion, and personal damage.
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
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.
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
The John Doe is being represented by powerhouse law firm Quinn Emanuel and is suing for civil extortion and infliction of emotional distress.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Tren de Aragua grew out of the prison system in the central state of Aragua in Venezuela and became one of the most violent groups in that country, focusing on extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
In a stunningly short amount of time, a picture from a private moment can be stolen and disseminated to the public; this has played out in the growing number of cases of hacking, extortion, and personal damage.
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
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 3 Dec. 2024.
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