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 In Smith's case, an image of her was doctored to create explicit pictures and videos, with her face edited onto different, partly nude bodies, and then used to try to extort money from others. Nicole Valdes, CBS News, 1 May 2025 His tariff scheme seems to have degenerated from a program to restore American manufacturing to little more than a form of blackmail to extort concessions from U.S. trading partners—in the process allowing Trump to present himself as a powerful leader whose ass is getting kissed. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025 Yet so far two major law firms, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP and Paul Weiss have given in to short term greed and paid off the don who lives in the White House and uses our government to extort money solely to enrich and aggrandize himself. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 After being terminated, the worker exploited his access to steal sensitive data and attempted to extort the company for a six-figure sum in cryptocurrency. Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extort
Verb
  • Gaslighting is a form of emotional and psychological manipulation in which one person attempts to coerce another person into doubting their own accurate observations, perspectives, and experiences.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • But tariffs have also evolved into a tool deployed by the White House to coerce foreign governments to comply with its broader agenda.
    Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Custom Container Living View 8 Images Custom Container Living has transformed a shipping container into an ultra-compact tiny house that squeezes a home for two into just 160 sq ft (14.8 sq m).
    Adam Williams May 08, New Atlas, 8 May 2025
  • Auto dealers, squeezed by President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the industry, are already seeing a tighter supply of vehicles to offer buyers at a time when sticker prices for many models are set to climb. Pine Belt Subaru in Lakewood, New Jersey, normally receives 100 to 120 cars a month.
    Brian Cheung, NBC news, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • By slapping tariffs on friends and foes alike, slashing foreign aid, proposing to seize strategic territory, and telling allies to fend for themselves, Trump’s approach might wring out some extra cash, at least for a while.
    MICHAEL BECKLEY, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Private equity’s playbook tends to be to slash workforces in order to wring out maximum profits from a company in a relatively short timeframe.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Many voters were not thrilled with Trump’s vows to exact revenge on his political enemies or pardon the Jan. 6 rioters.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 14 May 2025
  • The Cougars will now try to exact the same revenge on Western Washington, which has won 16 straight and is ranked eighth in the nation.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • However, the Rockets wrested momentum right back from the Warriors with their 109-94 win on Wednesday.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • By 1994, Armenian forces had wrested control of Nagorno-Karabakh and some of the adjacent Azerbaijani territories, driving out locals.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extort. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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