as in to threaten
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blackmail
Meanwhile, Stephen dangles the prospect of a normal relationship before Lucy, then blackmails her for sleeping with Evan behind Bree’s back during freshman year.
—
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Jan. 2026
Sextortion, a scheme where victims are deceived into sending online perpetrators explicit images and then blackmailed in exchange for money or additional graphic content, has affected thousands of teens in recent years and led to multiple suicide deaths.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Lexy’s guilt seems to be an open and shut case to the police, considering Rachel and Helen tried to recently blackmail her over her sister.
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
In addition to the incident in the woods, the blackmailing further made Catherine/Lexy the perfect suspect.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Jan. 2026
Sextortion, a scheme where victims are deceived into sending online perpetrators explicit images and then blackmailed in exchange for money or additional graphic content, has affected thousands of teens in recent years and led to multiple suicide deaths.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Lexy’s guilt seems to be an open and shut case to the police, considering Rachel and Helen tried to recently blackmail her over her sister.
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
In addition to the incident in the woods, the blackmailing further made Catherine/Lexy the perfect suspect.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmail
Verb
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Deep divisions over the conflict in the Middle East threatened to tear the campus in two.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
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Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, was charged with making threatening interstate communications, including threats to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In any case, makers of non-AI systems could potentially be squeezed into this definition, so all software and systems developers should be mindful of whether their automation could fall into this zone.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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The loss of those supplies — and the hard currency Havana earned by reselling part of them — has further squeezed an already fragile economy.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Violent confrontations targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota are being driven by outside actors exploiting chaos, not organic protest, according to a protest insider warning that the situation is rapidly spiraling.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The driver then drove into the city of Wheat Ridge and allegedly crashed into a Honda Pilot near Pierce Street and West 32nd Avenue several minutes later before continuing on.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At the time, the Everest ransomware group claimed responsibility and attempted to extort Under Armour by threatening to leak internal files.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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In a presentence investigation report cited by the Peekskill Herald, Pena denied the accusations and alleged to the probation officer that the victim's mother and her boyfriend were trying to extort money from him.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco Even the most blasé traveler will be impressed by this stately mansion atop Nob Hill.—
Forbes Travel Guide,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Nearly 130 players will be there to impress scouts and coaches from all 32 teams.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The uncle alleged that the donations made by Yamagami’s mother, which by then totalled seven hundred thousand dollars, had been coerced.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Don't let somebody coerce you into scanning them up on the floor, because everybody's trying to get to Coach Prime.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With temperatures climbing above freezing and sunny skies melting half the structure, they were forced to start over entirely.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Twenty-two people — two civilians and 20 firefighters — were injured and thousands were forced to evacuate.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmail. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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