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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Recent Examples of extorting
The official reports into that incident show that Epstein initially told prison officials that his cellmate had tried to kill him after extorting him for money.
—
Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 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
The traveler confessed to extorting others to commit self-harm, the memo said.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 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
Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 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
The traveler confessed to extorting others to commit self-harm, the memo said.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 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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The parents of a toddler who suffered a minor injury at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after squeezing through a fence near a wolf enclosure and making contact with one of the animals have been charged with endangering the welfare of children, police said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Every piece is so soft, almost like squeezing mini chunks of cotton candy.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Indonesia responded the following day by coercing the UDT and APODETI, among others, into issuing and signing the Balibo Declaration, which proclaimed the integration of East Timor into Indonesia.—
Agathe Demarolle,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
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Meyers is also accused of coercing the 15-year-old into recording the high school’s wrestling team, the complaint alleges.—
Brittany Kubicko,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some parents believe that enacting rules and exacting discipline helps maintain order in the home, and may think this approach will allow their children to thrive beyond it, too.—
Kelley King Heyworth,
Parents,
5 Apr. 2026
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During rehearsals, McCormack welcomed all professional feedback to reach the exacting standards of the realistic medical show, especially when using instruments such as a cranial drill.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Bells are best known for wringing absurd speed out of racing drones.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 05,
New Atlas,
5 Apr. 2026
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That is what Emma is doing in this scene by talking to Mark, looking at the floor demurely, and wringing her hands precisely three (3) times.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For small trucking companies, the increases are forcing difficult decisions.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Instead of viewing constraints as blockers (budget, time, market conditions), treat them as forcing functions that sharpen decision-making.—
Lisa Song Sutton,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Companies bracing for higher energy costs are already wresting with tariffs, inflation and bigger labor costs.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Trotsky hurled items from the desk at Mercader before wresting the ice pick from his grip.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extorting. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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