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
Retzlaff’s attorneys are also accusing the woman of extortion, claiming the quarterback never heard from the woman for more than a year.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Public services have disintegrated, and violent crime — including kidnappings, armed robberies, and extortion — is widespread.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
Double and triple extortion strategies, which threaten to not only encrypt data but also leak sensitive information, are raising the stakes.
—Michelle Drolet, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Anthropic published the research on Friday, weeks after the company found that its own AI model, Claude Opus 4, can engage in extortion if its existence is threatened.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for extortion
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Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Public services have disintegrated, and violent crime — including kidnappings, armed robberies, and extortion — is widespread.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
Double and triple extortion strategies, which threaten to not only encrypt data but also leak sensitive information, are raising the stakes.
—Michelle Drolet, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Anthropic published the research on Friday, weeks after the company found that its own AI model, Claude Opus 4, can engage in extortion if its existence is threatened.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 June 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 4 Jul. 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
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