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
Something Duncan says in a session with JoAnne leads her to unload some stock, like Martha Stewart in 2004, and Duncan, working this out, blackmails her into passing on inside information from her clients to him.
—
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The episode builds to a scene when Duncan, having sniffed out JoAnne’s scheme, blackmails her into an even larger scheme to pump rival executives for business scoops.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Dan Levy knows exactly what keeps him up at night, as the possibility of being blackmailed into committing crimes has haunted him for years.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
When he gets blackmailed by a mystery man, Reeves' character gets help from his high school besties, played by Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The episode builds to a scene when Duncan, having sniffed out JoAnne’s scheme, blackmails her into an even larger scheme to pump rival executives for business scoops.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Dan Levy knows exactly what keeps him up at night, as the possibility of being blackmailed into committing crimes has haunted him for years.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
When he gets blackmailed by a mystery man, Reeves' character gets help from his high school besties, played by Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmail
Verb
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Jenkinson, who faces two counts, is accused of threatening Andrew on Wednesday and another man on Tuesday.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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When time with her feels threatened, even well-meaning offers can land the wrong way.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Verb
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It was triggered, in his telling, by the record oil price spike of June 2008, which forced ordinary households to absorb more than $2,000 in additional energy costs on top of adjustable-rate mortgage resets that were already squeezing them.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
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Gas prices, housing costs and groceries are squeezing people who are working hard yet still falling behind.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
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For instance, researchers found that rapid urbanization and electrification across Asia drove brightening in cities from China to India to Sub-Saharan Africa.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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The novel starts out on a highway, in a car that’s driving too fast.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The group is attempting to extort the company, threatening to release massive amounts of student data if demands are not met.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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Marcus Lamb also alleged that three people tried to extort money from him to stay quiet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Making these pork ribs for lots of people is a fail-safe way to impress.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
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King has impressed thus far since arriving to the facility.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The Leavenworth Police Department has yet to identify a man who allegedly attempted to coerce a 16-year-old into his vehicle in the city on Wednesday.—
Caroline Zimmerman
May 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
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However, his pressure campaign against the central bank’s board and its current chairman, Jerome Powell, has grown into using the power of the federal government to bully and coerce.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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In the next race, however, the same approach was blocked by the Italians, and Botin was forced to bail out of the start altogether.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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But mostly, the Sparks’ defense activated, forcing 10 Las Vegas turnovers, led by two steals apiece from Atkins and Wheeler to fuel the comeback.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmail. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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