blackmailing

verb

present participle of blackmail
as in threatening
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 blackmailing The software might pursue options such as blackmailing its opponent or grabbing more compute time. — Deven Desai, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026 An announcement that is taking the blame game to great heights or lows, depending on your POV and who is blackmailing who — to paraphrase Bonta banger of earlier this week. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 In the past, models from OpenAI and other providers were theoretically shown to be capable of blackmailing users to prevent shutdowns. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 July 2026 Later, we’re treated to an electrifying scene of Dennis blackmailing a woman named Joyce Tercek in an elevator. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 June 2026 Of course, Lili responds by blackmailing her, threatening to out her for accepting the principal position knowing she'd been mistakenly recruited for the job. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 At its mid-’90s peak, upwards of 14 million people tuned in each week to see who was sleeping with, blackmailing or attempting to murder whom. — Andrea Lavinthal, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026 Members of the group allegedly conduct coordinated extortions of teens by blackmailing them. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026 Aviles and his attorney have denied the blackmailing accusation. — Connor Greene, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailing
  1. threatening
  2. squeezing
  3. driving
  4. extorting
  5. impressing
  6. harassing
Verb
  • But within him—just like everyone else—is something threatening and scary, that can take over under the worst of circumstances.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sims is also accused of threatening to beat a third woman during a separate incident Sunday in the 600 block of Queens Road, an affidavit says.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of threatening
Verb
  • Marris was aghast, squeezing the sides of her phone to capture what was on the screen.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The level of boredom Pugh brought to Kate making her older client orgasm by squeezing his nipples really sold her approach to the work.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeezing
Verb
  • In the employer market, more recent data suggest the volumes of prescriptions — which are proprietary — are driving up spending more than prices, although prices are still a factor.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • When the Vikings regained possession Minnesota gobbled up the clock, driving the ball to the 2-yard line before ending the game with the victory formation.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • He was accused of extorting private contractors for bribes between 2018 and 2021 in exchange for helping the companies keep and obtain work on school construction contracts.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In his report, Prescott said there is evidence substantiating the claim that Rodriguez-Mendez was extorting Guaranda.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of extorting
Verb
  • At 6-3, 255 pounds, Howell was one of several top pass rushers in the draft who was dinged for arm length but is already impressing with varied rushes through the first two weeks.
    — PJ Green September 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The third-round pick out of USC was one of the stars of Ravens training camp, impressing in practices and scoring a touchdown in the team’s first preseason game.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of impressing
Verb
  • Federal authorities on Thursday charged a Boston-area man with harassing Katie Miller, the conservative podcaster and wife of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, in a case that sparked a heated debate among prosecutors and within the FBI.
    — Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Lincoln-Way East High School board voted to allow six students accused of racially harassing students from Homewood-Flossmoor to withdraw.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of harassing

Browse Nearby Words

blackmailers
blackmailing
blackmails
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Cite this Entry

“Blackmailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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