sextortion

noun

sex·​tor·​tion ˌsek-ˈstȯr-shən How to pronounce sextortion (audio)
: 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Aside from pig butchering, according to the UN report, criminals across Southeast Asia are also running job scams, law enforcement impersonation, asset recovery scams, virtual kidnappings, sextortion, loan scams, business email compromise, and other illicit schemes. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2024 Related Articles Meta takes down thousands of Facebook, Instagram accounts running sextortion scams US investigating Delta’s flight cancellations and faltering response after tech outage How tech industry’s tumble cooled California’s economy Originally Published: July 24, 2024 at 1:57 p.m. Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 24 July 2024 The New Mexico attorney general said Tuesday that internal documents from Snapchat released as part of an ongoing lawsuit show how the platform failed to manage and notify users about sextortion on the platform. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 1 Oct. 2024 Meta declined to comment on the case, but pointed Forbes to its new protections against sextortion. Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sextortion 

Word History

Etymology

blend of sex entry 1 and extortion

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sextortion was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near sextortion

Cite this Entry

“Sextortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sextortion. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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