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
But now Europeans feel that they’re being blackmailed.
—
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
The comment appeared to be drawing attention to the fact that Colton starred on and dated women on both The Bachelorette and The Bachelor before later coming out as gay in 2021 after the reality star said he was being blackmailed by an individual who had threatened to release a photo of him.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 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
However, prosecutors portrayed Homolka as a battered wife who was beaten and blackmailed into aiding Bernardo, per the Associated Press.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
The attorney general of California may have been blackmailed.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 29 Nov. 2025
The bill was inspired by a Wisconsin teen who died by suicide after being blackmailed.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 14 Oct. 2025
These teen boys were blackmailed online.
—Nancy Cutler, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
But in July, the FBI and DOJ released a joint memo stating there was no Epstein client list and no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.
—Julie K. Brown Miami Herald, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
The comment appeared to be drawing attention to the fact that Colton starred on and dated women on both The Bachelorette and The Bachelor before later coming out as gay in 2021 after the reality star said he was being blackmailed by an individual who had threatened to release a photo of him.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 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
However, prosecutors portrayed Homolka as a battered wife who was beaten and blackmailed into aiding Bernardo, per the Associated Press.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
The attorney general of California may have been blackmailed.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 29 Nov. 2025
The bill was inspired by a Wisconsin teen who died by suicide after being blackmailed.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 14 Oct. 2025
These teen boys were blackmailed online.
—Nancy Cutler, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
But in July, the FBI and DOJ released a joint memo stating there was no Epstein client list and no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.
—Julie K. Brown Miami Herald, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailed
Verb
-
Plaintiffs allege Pepsi monitored competitors’ retail pricing and took corrective action whenever Walmart’s price advantage was threatened.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The radical republic that replaced it bore little resemblance to the partner of 1778, having descended into chaos, executions, and ideological extremism that threatened neighboring states.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The best part of the orange — your orange, Chicago taxpayers — already has been squeezed for the most juice, likely explaining the sale.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Managers have become organizational shock absorbers, squeezed between executive decisions from above and team realities below.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the indictment, the two defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy, committed multiple murders, engaged in drug distribution and extorted victims.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
An Orange County Civil Court wants Thompson to fill out an information sheet about his personal finances after last December’s $60,150 judgment in a lawsuit filed by Scott Meyer, who was extorted by Thompson’s Moving Giants.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Several good ol' boy Texans even drove up to the gate of a military base carrying their hunting rifles demanding to inspect the base for these martial-law troops.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Those same catalysts contributed to the searing inflation that drove the Consumer Price Index to a 40-year high in 2022.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Finally, Logan coerced Jake to admit to peeling the paper.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Al-Zubaidi had good reason to fear he would be imprisoned or at least coerced into capitulation.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What impressed me most was the wear.—
Olivia Cefalu,
InStyle,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Montana said on the podcast that he was impressed by Sheikha Mahra's post.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gardner, a Black woman, said the police union harassed and intimidated her and city officials attempted to silence her and remove her from office.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The security forces were a constant presence throughout the election campaign, and Wine said authorities followed him and harassed his supporters, using tear gas against them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With temperatures climbing above freezing and sunny skies melting half the structure, they were forced to start over entirely.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Twenty-two people — two civilians and 20 firefighters — were injured and thousands were forced to evacuate.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailed. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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