as in gangster
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats
the racketeer threatened to have his thugs vandalize the shop if the shopkeeper didn't pay him a monthly bribe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to blackmail
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of racketeer
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
Three co-defendants accepted plea deals earlier this week on racketeering conspiracy charges and were sentenced to probation and time served.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 Oct. 2024
Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024
As revealed in previously undisclosed FBI files, Manton fraternized with racketeers and accepted large loans and gifts from such unsavory sources.
—Time, 25 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for racketeer
Noun
Conahan pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
Three co-defendants accepted plea deals earlier this week on racketeering conspiracy charges and were sentenced to probation and time served.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
While President Herbert Hoover had waged a war against kidnappers and racketeers, Roosevelt amplified the effort dramatically, pushed it in new directions, and overcame the jurisdictional, racial, partisan, and class divisions that had previously obstructed the law-and-order state.
—Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024
As revealed in previously undisclosed FBI files, Manton fraternized with racketeers and accepted large loans and gifts from such unsavory sources.
—Time, 25 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for racketeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racketeer
Noun
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The pic is a story about a gangster in modern-day Chicago, inspired by the repentance story of the fifth-century saint of the same name.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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That‘s led to an artist like Thug wanting to be perceived as a gangster more than a savvy businessman, even with a precarious 15-year probation over his head.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But in July, the FBI and DOJ released a joint memo stating there was no Epstein client list and no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.—
Julie K. Brown Miami Herald,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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But in July, the FBI and DOJ released a joint memo stating there was no Epstein client list and no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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We’re then introduced to Louie, a thug who works for a loan shark, threatening and killing people.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Around that time in 2016, an undercover FBI agent approached Donna Adelson purporting to extort her with information about the contract killing on behalf of Rivera.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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If this information were accessed, scammers could more convincingly extort or deceive individuals, according to Landau.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Though the actor and his Task costars still muscled through a full-on vocal evolution to appear as eastern Pennsylvania natives in the new HBO drama series.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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An abdominal brace can help support the muscled and compress the area to reduce swelling.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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An agent approached Donna in Miami posing as an extortionist tied to the killers.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Abrego's lawyers have said the administration is trying to coerce him into pleading guilty.—
Ted Hesson,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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The allegations come amid the ongoing fallout of felony perjury and bribery charges filed in 2023 against Tran, who is accused of paying off and coercing a witness in a separate 2011 murder case.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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France’s government has collapsed after a vote of no confidence on Monday, forcing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou out of office after just nine months on the job.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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Quarterback Brock Purdy, who delivered a clutch, game-winning drive after throwing two interceptions, has a bad shoulder and toe that could force him to miss Week 2.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racketeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racketeer. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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