as in threatened
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
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Recent Examples of blackmailed
Sunny Nights stars D'Arcy Carden and Will Forte as a pair of siblings trying to launch a spray tan company out of the back of their van, only for things to go from bad to worse when they're blackmailed, indebted to a criminal syndicate, and running for their lives.
—
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
When Martin gets blackmailed by gangsters, the pair knock off a mafia henchman and plunge themselves deep into the Australian underworld, all while trying to keep their business afloat.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Decades before, Monroe was blackmailed by the CIA into becoming a mole in Zapata's Mexico City operation.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
The first is the showdown with Whitney on CNN after Eric learns he’s being blackmailed.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2026
During the Season 3 finale, DA Haller questioned private investigator Neil Bishop, who admitted he was blackmailed into working for Drug Enforcement Administration agent James De Marco.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Officers say one of those arrested was an employee at the store who claimed he was being blackmailed into helping with the scheme.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
But now Europeans feel that they’re being blackmailed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 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
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
When Martin gets blackmailed by gangsters, the pair knock off a mafia henchman and plunge themselves deep into the Australian underworld, all while trying to keep their business afloat.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Decades before, Monroe was blackmailed by the CIA into becoming a mole in Zapata's Mexico City operation.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
The first is the showdown with Whitney on CNN after Eric learns he’s being blackmailed.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2026
During the Season 3 finale, DA Haller questioned private investigator Neil Bishop, who admitted he was blackmailed into working for Drug Enforcement Administration agent James De Marco.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Officers say one of those arrested was an employee at the store who claimed he was being blackmailed into helping with the scheme.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
But now Europeans feel that they’re being blackmailed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailed
Verb
-
The news release said that the 31-year-old man harassed, threatened, and intimidated the 11 women — who were from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iowa and New York — in person, through social media, his podcast, text messages and phone calls.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Tehran has also threatened to deploy mines to block the entire Persian Gulf if its coasts or islands are attacked.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The three of us squeezed into our bedroom closet and huddled over my phone.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Tkachuk controlled the loose puck in the crease and squeezed it past goalie Ilya Sorokin for the comeback victory.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In schemes orchestrated with Iza, Coberg arranged a fake drug arrest and stood guard while a victim was extorted.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
At least three organizations have been extorted and suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after proprietary information was posted online by IT workers.—
Lisa Cavazuti,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
An officer of the Alvarado Police Department drove up, got out of his car, and drew his weapon.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Singh, however, argued that Jones was not coerced but fearful of the consequences.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Our university’s institutional review board approved our procedures, making sure Chris was safe and not coerced in any way.—
David Hu,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In our review of this model, we were impressed by its supertabloid sizing, up to 13 by 19 inches, and the output quality is stellar.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Burns’ 102-mph fastball and wipeout slider have been better pitches for him than his changeup, but the 23-year-old worked on the changeup this offseason and Stephenson, for one, has been impressed.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The news release said that the 31-year-old man harassed, threatened, and intimidated the 11 women — who were from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iowa and New York — in person, through social media, his podcast, text messages and phone calls.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
In his first game since breaking Bobby Hurley’s NCAA career record for assists, Braden Smith had 12 points and eight assists but was also harassed by Miami’s athletic guards into eight turnovers, matching his career high.—
Jeff Latzke,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Staffing shortages have forced some travelers to build in significantly more time before flights – sometimes hours more than usual.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Staffing shortages have forced some airports to close checkpoints at times, with wait times swinging dramatically.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailed. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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