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
These may include obstruction of justice, obstruction of criminal investigations, money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, straw purchasers, extortion and certain false statements.
—
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 29 Nov. 2025
However, Baldoni denied all of her accusations and filed his own $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and their PR team.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
He had been contacted with a $100,000 extortion threat, ostensibly by a now-defunct group of communist guerrilla fighters, to pay up or his family would be harmed, according to court records.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Some children left El Fasher with their parents but were separated on the dangerous road along the way, where kidnappings, killings and extortion are rife.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extortion
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Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 29 Nov. 2025
However, Baldoni denied all of her accusations and filed his own $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and their PR team.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
He had been contacted with a $100,000 extortion threat, ostensibly by a now-defunct group of communist guerrilla fighters, to pay up or his family would be harmed, according to court records.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Some children left El Fasher with their parents but were separated on the dangerous road along the way, where kidnappings, killings and extortion are rife.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 26 Nov. 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 5 Dec. 2025.
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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
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