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
Prosecutors say Snow used social media and his knowledge of technology to target, intimidate and blackmail women.
—
Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2026
Hayley turns out to be a call girl Halberstram had hired to woo and blackmail powerful figures.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Whitney had a Jeffrey Epstein-like habit of blackmailing powerful associates with recordings of intimate moments, often with his ex-escort assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
Gonzales has refused to address the report and instead claims the late staffer's husband is blackmailing him.
—Jj Velasquez, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2026
Hayley turns out to be a call girl Halberstram had hired to woo and blackmail powerful figures.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Whitney had a Jeffrey Epstein-like habit of blackmailing powerful associates with recordings of intimate moments, often with his ex-escort assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
Gonzales has refused to address the report and instead claims the late staffer's husband is blackmailing him.
—Jj Velasquez, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmail
Verb
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The person said Mays presented himself as a professional gambler and allegedly threatened to take away the tipster’s child if the person exposed his activities.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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The American-Israeli military campaign set off a series of attacks and counterattacks that have hit or threatened several Gulf nations.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This technical pivot would allow nations to squeeze every profitable drop from their own land with surgical precision, bypassing the geopolitical chaos of distant chokepoints and securing a future defined by Decentralized Techno-Resource Sovereignty.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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When residents are this squeezed, City Hall’s predictable response has been to charge us more.—
Bradley Schnell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yet, Whitman-Hanson had one final gasp, as Pierre drove to the basket.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
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The neighborhood/area The immediate neighborhood around the resort doesn’t offer much beyond lush greenery, but drive about 15 minutes west to find the famous Alona Beach, a particularly scenic strip of sand bookended by dramatic rock walls.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police say 18th Street members also are known to extort both licensed and unlicensed vendors in the area.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Gonzales has denied the affair with the aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, and claims he's being extorted by her husband.—
Caroline Linton,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lacey has apparently impressed in Manning’s absence.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
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Country singers impressed, as did the unique vocal stylings of dementia-care aide Brooks Rosser, who is all but certain to be among the last standing in the competition.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, in early 2026, Banegas claimed his attorneys coerced him into pleading guilty and sought to change his plea.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Two similar situated individuals, both coerced to commit a murder have a different sentencing structure.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates with defenseman Sam Rinzel (6) and center Ryan Donato (8) after scoring a goal to force overtime late in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Dallas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
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Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart helped spearhead a strong defensive effort that held New York to less than 100 points and forced eight key turnovers late in the game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmail. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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