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
Bandit gangs control entire districts, extorting protection money from communities in cash or kind, killing those that resist.
—
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Instead of extorting money to decrypt data in a company’s own system, an attacker can just threaten to release sensitive data if the ransom isn’t paid.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
After a relative suffered an accident, the cops who responded ended up extorting money from him, Ramírez said.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
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
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Instead of extorting money to decrypt data in a company’s own system, an attacker can just threaten to release sensitive data if the ransom isn’t paid.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
After a relative suffered an accident, the cops who responded ended up extorting money from him, Ramírez said.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extorting
Verb
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The solar sector has been grappling with a prolonged price slump and oversupply, squeezing margins even as leading producers continue to add capacity.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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For generations, Americans who wanted orange juice without the work of squeezing fresh fruit cracked open a can and watched a cylinder of frozen juice go ker-plunk into a pitcher.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The decision typically comes down to whether the government is coercing the public and specifics about who's involved and the intent.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Investigators accuse him of coercing middle school football players to perform nude exercises in a locker room and secretly photographing them in various stages of undress.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Given its size, Koi Palace set an exacting standard of shocking consistency for many years.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Hawley’s aesthetic is exacting, with limited tolerance for details that veer from his vision.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Squeeze out excess water without wringing the scarf.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
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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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Rodríguez is the closest of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects after starting last season at High-A, forcing his way to Double-A, and earning a brief promotion to Triple-A for his last start of the year.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Similarly, many public schools in Chicago, and across Illinois, are facing low enrollment and financial strain forcing families to look elsewhere for their education.—
Froylan Jimenez,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now the president is again pitching the idea that wresting control of Greenland away from Denmark could solve the problem.—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Hopes for both lower interest rates and a solid economy have helped other areas of the stock market climb recently, wresting leadership away from the Big Tech and AI stocks that dominated the market for years.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extorting. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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