BLACKMAILED Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

blackmailed

verb

past tense of blackmail

as in threatened

to use blackmail against (someone) The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of blackmailed Assassination-for-hire is the tragicomic domain of people looking for someone to kill a spouse or a rival but getting blackmailed by teenagers pretending to be hit men in the process. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Although Sheldon was initially blackmailed into meeting Amy, the duo quickly bonded over their similarities and went on their first official date in season 4. — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 Irene has blackmailed the Bohemian royal family, Carrie is a thief who has stolen rare stamps from a penniless woman unaware of their value, and Fanny disguises as a man to gain access to a bank vault. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 Some students discovered the account and blackmailed Nichols into giving them better grades, the warrant states. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 Before work, Geri heads off to question Joyce Tercek, the Yale admissions lady that Dennis blackmailed in the elevator a few episodes ago. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 1 July 2026 He was never blackmailed by Epstein. — Graham Kates, CBS News, 26 June 2026 Groff said Epstein told her again after the 2008 plea deal that he was blackmailed. — Lauren Peller, ABC News, 9 June 2026 In 2013, Southern Stars players were blackmailed into obeying instructions by having their salaries withheld. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailed

Verb

This was partly inspired by the club’s latest investigations into apparent ‘ticket-touting’, when 1,149 fan accounts were banned, and more were threatened with having their season tickets revoked.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Rate Field was financed by the State of Illinois after White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf had threatened to move the team to the Tampa Bay Area in Florida back in 1988.

— Darius Johnson, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of threatened

Verb

Add in Braxton Berrios, the Giants’ punt returner and backup slot receiver, and that squeezed Slayton out.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026
Independent designers, once a discovery engine, were being squeezed, while the biggest brands put more investment into their own stores, creating a dichotomy in experiences that Bron felt was palpable.

— Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of squeezed

Verb

Clement later successfully extorted one of Roshanki’s friends for $5,000 in drug proceeds, then insisted that Roshanski owed him money for drugs and fraud.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
The police chief allegedly extorted the victim and the victim’s father in connection with the pending murder case.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of extorted

Verb

The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Stocks posted a comeback one day after the Fed's decision to raise rates by a quarter percentage point — with the suggestion of at least one more rate increase this year — drove major market averages sharply lower Wednesday.

— Justina Lee,Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of drove

Verb

Williams also asked Saab whether anyone had threatened or coerced him into changing his plea.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Michael Cohen, the president’s former personal attorney, was the prosecution’s star witness but has since publicly stated that Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James coerced him into cooperating.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of coerced

Verb

The National Labor Relations Board is currently considering allegations that Innercare illegally harassed and terminated employees during the 2024 unionization drive.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen and other new starters harassed Baker Mayfield throughout the game in a 33-27 victory.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of harassed

Verb

But the truth of it is that Sharaa forced his hand by seizing swathes of the SDF’s territory in a lightning offensive in January.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
In 1963, Gloria Steinem went undercover for a journalism assignment as a Playboy bunny, exposing degrading working conditions that forced policy changes.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of forced

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blackmail

blackmailed

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“Blackmailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailed. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of blackmailed

verb

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