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

Example 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 This week’s Poway City Council resulted in a vote to appoint Christopher Pikus to an open seat — along with a heated exchange over the conduct of Councilmember Tony Blain, who has been accused of trying to bribe and extort his colleagues in his push for a special election. —

Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025 Is Trump’s rhetoric an effort to extort more money from Panama? —

Julie Greene / Made By History, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025 Mayers, through his lawyer, says Ephron fabricated the shooting and a grazing injury to his hand to extort him for money. —

Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025 Backing up files for protection and copying files to extort a ransom look identical from a behavioral standpoint. —

Danny Jenkins, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for extort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for extort

Verb

The Supreme Court's Bantam Books v. Sullivan precedent makes clear that government officials can't use their position to coerce private entities into censorship.

— Brenda Looper, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
The new Trump administration, however, seems much keener on wielding U.S. military power to coerce the Iranians into abandoning their nuclear ambitions.

— Rosemary Kelanic, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2025