extort

verb

ex·​tort ik-ˈstȯrt 

extorted; extorting; extorts

transitive verb

: to obtain from a person by force, intimidation, or undue or illegal power : wring

also : to gain especially by ingenuity or compelling argument

extorter noun

extortive

ik-ˈstȯr-tiv 

adjective

Did you know?

To extort is literally to wrench something out of someone. Extortion is a mainstay of organized crime. Just as the school bully extorts lunch money from the smaller kids in exchange for not beating them up, thugs extort "protection" money from business owners with threats of violence. But that's only one kind of extortion; a mobster might extort favors from a politician with threats of revealing some dark secret, just as you might extort a favor from a brother or sister by promising not to tell on them.

Synonyms

• exact
• wrest
• wring

Choose the Right Synonym for extort

educe, evoke, elicit, extract, extort mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved.

educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

educed order out of chaos

evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

a song that evokes warm memories

elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

careful questioning elicited the truth

extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

extracted a confession from him

extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Examples of extort in a Sentence

The criminals extorted large sums of money from their victims.

He was arrested for extorting bribes.

Recent Examples on the Web

That laid the groundwork for Iran to retain the capability to continue to use its nuclear program to extort the United States and ultimately build a nuclear weapon. —Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025

Since then, the Club Shay Shay host and his legal team have vehemently denied the allegations and claimed the Jane Doe set up the entire situation with a plan to extort him for $50 million. —Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 5 May 2025

The charges come after police said a victim reported that Fitzpatrick allegedly extorted them. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

Abrego Garcia left his home in El Salvador in 2011 at the age of sixteen after a local gang extorted his family's business, threatened to rape and kill his sisters, and made repeated threats on his life, according to immigration court filings. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre to wrench out, extort, from ex- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for extort

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• forecourt

Kids Definition

extort

verb

ex·​tort ik-ˈstȯ(ə)rt 

: to get (as money) from a person by the use of force or threats

extorter noun

Etymology

from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre "to twist out, extort," from ex- "out, away" and torquēre "to twist" — related to distort, retort, torture

Legal Definition

extort

transitive verb

ex·​tort ik-ˈstȯrt 

: to obtain (as money) from a person by force, intimidation, or undue or unlawful use of authority or power

extorter noun

extortive

-ˈstȯr-tiv 

adjective

Etymology

Latin extortus, past participle of extorquere to remove by twisting, obtain by force, from ex- out + torquere to twist