Thesaurus results for EXTORT

Q: How does the verb 'extort' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of extort are educe , elicit , evoke , and extract . While all these words mean "to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved," extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly. // extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Q: Where would 'educe' be a reasonable alternative to 'extort'?

While the synonyms educe and extort are close in meaning, educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent. // educed order out of chaos

Q: In what contexts can 'elicit' take the place of 'extort'?

In some situations, the words elicit and extort are roughly equivalent. However, elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response. // careful questioning elicited the truth

Q: When is 'evoke' a more appropriate choice than 'extort'?

The synonyms evoke and extort are sometimes interchangeable, but evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory. // a song that evokes warm memories

Q: When could 'extract' be used to replace 'extort'?

The words extract and extort can be used in similar contexts, but extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information. // extracted a confession from him

extort

verb

ik-ˈstȯrt

Definition of extort next

as in to coerce

to get (as money) by the use of force or threats a school bully who was used to extorting lunch money from weaker kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb extort contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of extort are educe, elicit, evoke, and extract. While all these words mean "to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved," extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Where would educe be a reasonable alternative to extort?

While the synonyms educe and extort are close in meaning, educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

educed order out of chaos

In what contexts can elicit take the place of extort?

In some situations, the words elicit and extort are roughly equivalent. However, elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

careful questioning elicited the truth

When is evoke a more appropriate choice than extort?

The synonyms evoke and extort are sometimes interchangeable, but evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

a song that evokes warm memories

When could extract be used to replace extort?

The words extract and extort can be used in similar contexts, but extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

extracted a confession from him

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of extort At the same time, Grigorieva was cleared of claims by Gibson that the mother of one of his children was trying to extort him with recordings of racist and violent rants against her. —

Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024 The World Food Programme has blamed gangs operating in the region, extorting farmers, stealing crops and forcing workers off their lands, for spiraling food prices and shortages that have pushed 5 million into severe food insecurity and thousands in Port-au-Prince to famine-level hunger. —

Reuters, NBC News, 5 Oct. 2024 The Tuohy family is claiming that Oher is trying to extort them. —

Mack Muldofsky, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2024 No one can extort billions of dollars from murderers and rapists. —

Onkar Ghate, Orange County Register, 1 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for extort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for extort

Verb

The suit, which didn’t say how much White paid the Mexican plaintiffs, alleges that he was coerced into making the settlements.

Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Musk has defended the giveaways, saying in a town hall that it was not meant to coerce people to register to vote.

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024