as in to threaten
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
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Recent Examples of blackmail
Of course, Lili responds by blackmailing her, threatening to out her for accepting the principal position knowing she'd been mistakenly recruited for the job.
—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
This comes on the heels of reports of thousands of iPhone thefts in London, with their owners being blackmailed or threatened into giving the thieves their Apple ID credentials, so the thieves can unlock, wipe, and resell the phones.
—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Their antagonism peaked at the end of Season 3, when Deborah achieves her dream of landing a late-night chair and Ava blackmails her way into the head-writer job.
—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
This comes on the heels of reports of thousands of iPhone thefts in London, with their owners being blackmailed or threatened into giving the thieves their Apple ID credentials, so the thieves can unlock, wipe, and resell the phones.
—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Their antagonism peaked at the end of Season 3, when Deborah achieves her dream of landing a late-night chair and Ava blackmails her way into the head-writer job.
—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmail
Verb
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But labor unions and safety experts warn driverless big rigs could threaten jobs and public safety.
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Severe storms, flash flooding and extreme heat are battering parts of the Plains, Midwest and the South this weekend, threatening to disrupt World Cup fans, athletes and holiday travelers alike.
Verb
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Blend roasted red peppers with V8, and add Worcestershire sauce and freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice for a fresh alternative to bottled bloody mary mix.
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With electric vehicles continuing to gain share, that further squeezes European carmakers.
Verb
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Those moves unfold in the heart of the Pittsburgh Innovation District, where Oakland’s mix of universities, hospitals and startups is driving new construction and intensifying competition for space around campus.
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The shooting took place in Towson Circle as the Majied and the suspect were driving in different cars.
Verb
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Antoine Larry, a former patrol officer in south suburban Phoenix, was accused of conspiring with another officer to extort suspects for cash and drugs during traffic stops.
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Richards attained fame as a pioneering male supermodel in major ad campaigns by the likes of Bruce Weber, Richard Avedon, and Helmut Newton, but all along he was being extorted and exploited by Mierers and his followers to bolster (and bankroll) their shaky, pseudoscientific philosophy.
Verb
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While the original impressed us with its ability to enhance product absorption and boost radiance, the new Booster Pro X2 doubles down with stronger output, dual-electrode technology, and seven treatment modes designed to improve everything from dull skin to large pores.
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After Cape Verde continued its fairytale run and Spain got back to winning ways yesterday, today’s action involves three superstars who all impressed last week.
Verb
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Weger later insisted he had been coerced into making the confession.
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The decentralized group, created by 15-year-old Bradley Chance Cadenhead in Stephenville, targets children through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to coerce them into self-harm and sharing explicit content.
Verb
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In 1976, the Bicentennial followed the traumas of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal that had forced President Richard Nixon's resignation.
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An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.
Cite this Entry
“Blackmail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmail. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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