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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extorting
The report describes Indigenous patrols in Venezuela allegedly working alongside armed groups controlling mining areas and extorting workers along river routes.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
Dozens of armed groups run rampant in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, extorting businesses, kidnapping people and driving farmers off their land.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
There had been tension between Bo Nagar’s force and the local PDF units since last year over his BNRA fighters allegedly extorting money at road checkpoints.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Hayley — who turns out to be a hooker who does secretarial admin on the side and not an executive assistant who occasionally threesomes — is extorting him for $750,000.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
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 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
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
Dozens of armed groups run rampant in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, extorting businesses, kidnapping people and driving farmers off their land.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
There had been tension between Bo Nagar’s force and the local PDF units since last year over his BNRA fighters allegedly extorting money at road checkpoints.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Hayley — who turns out to be a hooker who does secretarial admin on the side and not an executive assistant who occasionally threesomes — is extorting him for $750,000.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extorting
Verb
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Lightweight enough to toss into a carry-on, these slippers still have a durable sole, meaning quick trips to the airplane bathroom or hotel hallway don’t require squeezing back into shoes.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
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From cutting to squeezing to gluing, this craft set is packed with items that can help prepare children for kindergarten.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Verb
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There were more damning allegations made by Burrowes against Diddy, which included Combs coercing Burrowes to make changes in Biggie’s record deal with Bad Boy to make the terms more lucrative and favorable for the label.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
3 Dec. 2025
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Moscow has previously denied coercing foreigners to enlist.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But those standards are exacting.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
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Think of the telegraph, which arrived in the 1840s and policymakers debated public ownership from its earliest days (in fact, the Labor Reform Party’s 1872 platform demanded the government prevent telegraph corporations from exacting rates that bore unduly on producers and consumers).—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Cal fans are wringing their hands in fear that Sagapolutele, one of the nation’s most promising young quarterbacks, could transfer in reaction to the coaching change.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
26 Nov. 2025
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With everyone following Neal’s lead, Lindsay realized that other than her and Doherty, no one was interested in wringing much out of Amazon.—
Sean Patrick Cooper,
Rolling Stone,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Clark finished with 21 points, forcing Toronto to respect her scoring ability and preventing defenders from keying solely on her passing.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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The Saudis should be thrilled with the draw, as favored Uruguay, La Celeste, dominated large patches of the match with 67 percent overall possession, a 10-3 margin in shots, 14-4 in corner kicks, more than double the accurate passes and forcing nine saves of the busy Saudi goalkeeper.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
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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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
Cite this Entry
“Extorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extorting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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