as in gangster
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats
the blackmailer threatened to tell the media about the mayor's arrest as a teenager
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Recent Examples of blackmailer
On advice of his crisis lawyer Ira Slitz (Hill, unrecognizable with a bald head and gray beard), Reef sets out to apologize to everyone from his past who may be angry with him in an effort to find the blackmailer.
—
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
In Season 2, eager to take on another big undercover case, Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson) gets his chance when a mysterious blackmailer targets Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), who enlists Charles to go undercover as a professor.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Charles’ boss, Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada), takes the case, and given Charles’ background as a retired Cal State East Bay engineering professor, installs him as a visiting professor tasked with rooting out the blackmailer.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Nov. 2025
Although the threat of death was everywhere in this show, the list of actual deaths is relatively short and the majority had to do with the anonymous blackmailer and the secrets and lies built around Alison’s fake death.
—Catherine Mhloyi, Them., 29 Oct. 2025
Despite paying off blackmailers and marrying Lady Olivia Hedges (Danielle Galligan) to protect his secret, Arthur still loses his father’s Parliament seat after getting caught committing election fraud.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Grandchildren are being summoned to help grandparents deal with blackmailers.
—Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2025
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
In Season 2, eager to take on another big undercover case, Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson) gets his chance when a mysterious blackmailer targets Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), who enlists Charles to go undercover as a professor.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Charles’ boss, Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada), takes the case, and given Charles’ background as a retired Cal State East Bay engineering professor, installs him as a visiting professor tasked with rooting out the blackmailer.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Nov. 2025
Although the threat of death was everywhere in this show, the list of actual deaths is relatively short and the majority had to do with the anonymous blackmailer and the secrets and lies built around Alison’s fake death.
—Catherine Mhloyi, Them., 29 Oct. 2025
Despite paying off blackmailers and marrying Lady Olivia Hedges (Danielle Galligan) to protect his secret, Arthur still loses his father’s Parliament seat after getting caught committing election fraud.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Grandchildren are being summoned to help grandparents deal with blackmailers.
—Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailer
Noun
-
The only ones making money on alcohol now were gangsters.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 May 2026
-
The gangsters who are running the country almost pride themselves on a lack of subtlety and finesse.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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As the bomb squad works to disarm it, FBI rushes to catch the extortionists.—
William Earl,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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The movie follows Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves), an A-list Hollywood star and recovering addict who fears the destruction of his reputation when a mysterious extortionist threatens to release a damaging video of him.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ferro pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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The characters were based on a real family of bookmakers and racketeers who once lived in England.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmailer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailer. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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