as in threatening
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
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Recent Examples of blackmailing
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
But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 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
Whitney had a Jeffrey Epstein-like habit of blackmailing powerful associates with recordings of intimate moments, often with his ex-escort assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Gonzales has refused to address the report and instead claims the late staffer's husband is blackmailing him.
—
Jj Velasquez,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Feb. 2026
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
But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 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
Whitney had a Jeffrey Epstein-like habit of blackmailing powerful associates with recordings of intimate moments, often with his ex-escort assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Gonzales has refused to address the report and instead claims the late staffer's husband is blackmailing him.
—
Jj Velasquez,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailing
Verb
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An Indiana man is accused of stalking, harassment, intimidation and sending threatening and explicit messages to WNBA star Sophie Cunningham via social media, officials said.
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To remove the possibility of high schoolers negotiating higher bonuses by threatening to go to college.
Verb
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While the expiration of the enhanced ACA subsidies made insurance more expensive for millions of consumers, experts say other health costs, such as prescription drugs, medical tests and hospital bills, are also squeezing consumers.
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Labor, rent, insurance, utilities, equipment and packaging are all squeezing already-thin margins.
Verb
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Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
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Tire pressure sensors are vital to a vehicle’s health, especially when driving on pothole and junk-laden Atlanta streets.
Verb
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The report describes Indigenous patrols in Venezuela allegedly working alongside armed groups controlling mining areas and extorting workers along river routes.
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Dozens of armed groups run rampant in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, extorting businesses, kidnapping people and driving farmers off their land.
Verb
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Radek Vitek, 22, could also depart either permanently or on loan in search of regular playing time after impressing on loan at Championship club Bristol City.
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And nobody should worry about impressing the chef.
Verb
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In Ithaca, the suitors have been eating up Odysseus’ livestock and harassing his wife for years.
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The mayor’s social media message follows multiple incidents involving Knicks fans harassing Spurs supporters, some of which escalated into physical violence.
Cite this Entry
“Blackmailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailing. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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