as in squeezing
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
a school bully who was used to extorting lunch money from weaker kids
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Recent Examples of extorting
The Barrio 18 and MS-13 gangs are rivals, battling for territorial control in Guatemala by extorting shopkeepers, transport workers and civilians.
—
CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The couple allegedly asked customers’ family members to send original passports to them and then frequently refused to return the passports unless customers paid hundreds of dollars more, effectively extorting them, Ellison’s office said.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 22 Dec. 2025
Trump seems unconcerned that extorting his partners contravenes the principles of what was designed as a free-trade accord.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
On November 22, Russia’s National Guard said an organized crime group in Moscow had been arrested, accused of kidnapping war veterans and extorting money from them and their families.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
In addition, the embassy said travelers should be aware of road checkpoints, some set up by law enforcement and some set up by criminals with the goal of extorting money.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025
Now its 3,000 or so operators work mostly locally, extorting farmers and businessmen in the South.
—Elena Clavarino, Air Mail, 8 Nov. 2025
These groups are extorting fleeing civilians for safe passage, Saraf claims.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
He is also accused of extorting an unnamed person to collect gambling debts in 2023.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The couple allegedly asked customers’ family members to send original passports to them and then frequently refused to return the passports unless customers paid hundreds of dollars more, effectively extorting them, Ellison’s office said.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 22 Dec. 2025
Trump seems unconcerned that extorting his partners contravenes the principles of what was designed as a free-trade accord.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
On November 22, Russia’s National Guard said an organized crime group in Moscow had been arrested, accused of kidnapping war veterans and extorting money from them and their families.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
In addition, the embassy said travelers should be aware of road checkpoints, some set up by law enforcement and some set up by criminals with the goal of extorting money.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025
Now its 3,000 or so operators work mostly locally, extorting farmers and businessmen in the South.
—Elena Clavarino, Air Mail, 8 Nov. 2025
These groups are extorting fleeing civilians for safe passage, Saraf claims.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
He is also accused of extorting an unnamed person to collect gambling debts in 2023.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extorting
Verb
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The Bagail 6-piece Compression Packing Cube Set is just $19 and a game-changer for squeezing extra outfits into a carry-on.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
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To check for ripeness, start by squeezing the fruit—ripe mangos should give slightly under pressure without feeling overly soft or mushy.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit accused the company of coercing customers into signing agreements that allowed the company to act as the exclusive real estate listing agent for an undisclosed period of time.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Nov. 2025
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In one recent case, a 22-year-old man used Discord to prey on victims as young as 12 years old, coercing them into creating explicit content.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Pulling it off would require trips to three different grocery stores and untold hours of exacting, minute tasks.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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The government shutdown is exacting a heavy mental toll on the nation’s military families, leaving them not knowing from week to week whether their paychecks will arrive.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Take advantage of the scorching, sunny days in late spring or summer by wringing out excess water and placing your drying rack outside in direct sunlight.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
28 Dec. 2025
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As the complaining businesses are no doubt wringing their hands over the setback, shoppers are also bemoaning the havoc that tariffs have wreaked on their pocketbooks as the final week of holiday shopping ramps up.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Bloomberg | Getty Images Private equity fund managers are bracing for a wave of consolidation as investors demand higher returns and stronger governance, forcing a shakeout in an overcrowded industry, several industry veterans said at a high-level finance summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
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The reductions announced on Wednesday could cause even more disruption, forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule thousands of flights per day.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, these Chinese middlemen have essentially become the go-to bankers for the biggest players in the US drug trade, authorities have said, wresting control from Latin American interests in what has amounted to a bloodless coup.—
Rob Kuznia,
CNN Money,
18 Nov. 2025
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If elections are more about wresting power from the other side, how does our country move forward?—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extorting. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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