sextortion

noun

sex·​tor·​tion ˌsek-ˈstȯr-shən 

: extortion in which a perpetrator threatens to expose sexually compromising information (such as sexually explicit private images or videos of the victim) unless the victim meets certain demands

Sextortion is when an online predator tricks someone into giving them nude images or videos, and then demands money, more images, or makes other demands—threatening to share the images with the victim's friends and family if they don't comply.

—bradfordtoday.ca

Sextortion is a crime that is now sweeping the web, from organized criminal groups operating overseas to cyber-bullies at the local high school.

—The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California)

Two male high school students in an Allegan County school district were recent victims of sextortion—a form of online sexual exploitation that typically occurs against kids ages 10-17.

—Sherri Kolade

Deling used text messages and social media platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kik and Skype, in the sextortion scheme against girls between the ages of 11 and 17, prosecutors say.

—Chacour Koop

Examples of sextortion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Offenders of financially motivated sextortion typically originate from African and Southeast Asian countries, according to the FBI. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025

This company is taking advantage of sextortion victims, some customers say A college student thought his texts and some nude photos were going to a girl. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

Meta is ramping up its efforts to fight sextortion on Instagram with the launch of new features that are designed to help prevent young users from getting blackmailed into sharing nude photos. —Angela Yang, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024

The government gathered evidence indicating Owens operated his sextortion campaign from 2021 through to 2024. —Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

blend of sex entry 1 and extortion

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sextortion

• abortion
• apportion
• contortion
• distortion
• extortion
• proportion
• disproportion
• portion
• torsion