extortion
noun
ex·tor·tion
ik-ˈstȯr-shən 
1
: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property
especially
: the offense committed by an official engaging in such practice
2
: something extorted
especially
: a gross overcharge
Examples of extortion in a Sentence
He was arrested and charged with extortion.
six dollars for a cup of coffee is just plain extortion
Recent Examples on the Web
That same day, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, The New York Times, Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane accusing them of civil extortion and defamation.
—
Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
He was indicted on 22 charges in December 2003, including racketeering, bribery, extortion, money laundering and tax fraud.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Guerrero Flores is accused of directing and supporting acts of violence and terrorism across borders, including murders, kidnappings, extortion and maiming, against victims inside and outside the United States.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
Murders, kidnappings, and extortion were down.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extortion
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.
Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
He was indicted on 22 charges in December 2003, including racketeering, bribery, extortion, money laundering and tax fraud.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Guerrero Flores is accused of directing and supporting acts of violence and terrorism across borders, including murders, kidnappings, extortion and maiming, against victims inside and outside the United States.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
Murders, kidnappings, and extortion were down.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extortion. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
extortion
noun
ex·tor·tion
ik-ˈstȯr-shən
1
: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property
specifically
: the act or practice of extorting by a public official acting under color of office
2
: the crime of extorting
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share