as in to coerce
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats a school bully who was used to extorting lunch money from weaker kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb extort contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of extort are educe, elicit, evoke, and extract. While all these words mean "to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved," extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Where would educe be a reasonable alternative to extort?

While the synonyms educe and extort are close in meaning, educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

educed order out of chaos

In what contexts can elicit take the place of extort?

In some situations, the words elicit and extort are roughly equivalent. However, elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

careful questioning elicited the truth

When is evoke a more appropriate choice than extort?

The synonyms evoke and extort are sometimes interchangeable, but evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

a song that evokes warm memories

When could extract be used to replace extort?

The words extract and extort can be used in similar contexts, but extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

extracted a confession from him

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 extort Deepfakes, which until now have largely been used to defame or extort people, would at least be generating royalties for their subjects. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2025 And in response, the Maduro regime is extorting them by holding their nationals in prison and forcing them to engage with the Maduro regime for their release. Manuel Rueda, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025 Shannon was going through the worst thing in her life last year — getting a DUI and then being extorted for $75,000 by her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend who crashed the show — and what did Tamra do? Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025 Taxi and bus drivers, meanwhile, say gangs are extorting them for money and that the government is not doing enough to intervene. Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extort
Verb
  • During that March 20 game, according to the feds, Porter was coerced into rigging games by others who threatened him due to his pre-existing gambling debts.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The retail giant agreed to the settlement to resolve an antitrust lawsuit filed by the FTC in 2023, in which federal officials alleged that Amazon coerced millions of consumers into enrolling in Prime subscriptions and then made those agreements extremely difficult to cancel.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program, a Philadelphia food bank, told USA TODAY that food banks are already squeezed by federal funding cuts.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Then, squeeze your Magic Eraser a few times to activate the foaming bubbles.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic’s steep terrain will force air upward, wringing out more moisture from the storm, just like squeezing a wet sponge, turning tropical humidity into torrents racing downhill.
    Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Brain wrung like a sponge every rinse cycle.
    Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Tigers exacted some measure of revenge by eliminating Cleveland in the wild card series — only to once again lose the ALDS in five games — this time in highly heartbreaking fashion, on a walk-off base hit by the Seattle Mariners in the 15th inning.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Thousands of miles of piping and wiring must meet exacting safety standards.
    Brad Plumer, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hamas wrested power from the more secular and internationally recognized Fatah party in 2007 after winning legislative elections the previous year.
    Matt Bradley, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The state and federal governments argued that NEPA does not apply to the state, and the appellate court agreed with them, suspending the lower court’s decision pending arguments on the merits of the appeal and wresting the case from District Judge Kathleen Williams until the appeal is resolved.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extort. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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