as in cheating
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services
six dollars for a cup of coffee is just plain extortion
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extortion
The Spaniard is locked in a legal fight with the DP World Tour, which governs the European Ryder Cup side, and has accused it of extortion.
—
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
In 2025 the Defense Ministry registered 12,180 cases of extortion, a 12% decrease from the previous year.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Tompkins — who as sheriff hauls in an annual salary of $191,000 — was charged last year with two counts of Hobbs Act extortion in connection with a cannabis company.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
The Richards Bay Minerals’ Zulti South project has been halted for six years because of violent unrest including protests and extortion attempts, but the mining giant said relations with the local community and the security situation had now improved.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
In 2025 the Defense Ministry registered 12,180 cases of extortion, a 12% decrease from the previous year.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Tompkins — who as sheriff hauls in an annual salary of $191,000 — was charged last year with two counts of Hobbs Act extortion in connection with a cannabis company.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
The Richards Bay Minerals’ Zulti South project has been halted for six years because of violent unrest including protests and extortion attempts, but the mining giant said relations with the local community and the security situation had now improved.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extortion
Noun
-
That cheating is rampant in our elections.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Not every young person feels this type of cheating is wrong.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Furniture pads on the bottoms of heavy furniture help protect laminate flooring from scratches and gouging.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Soon after, Bradley stumbles on Zuri’s body and confronts Linda, resulting in a brutal fight that includes stabbing, scalp ripping, and some really upsetting eye gouging.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Three games into his Colorado Rapids tenure, the club paying $125,000 in General Allocation Money — less than the going price of an international roster slot — is looking like highway robbery.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2025
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This was a dangerous situation and was literally highway robbery.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Because this was an intentional policy maneuver, rather than an accounting or process problem, and there is no guarantee that the federal government will reimburse this large amount of funds, this overcharging and accrual of unpaid federal funds has been flagged by DLS as a legislative issue.—
Steve Arentz,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
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While that’s substantial, even a much larger overcharging estimate on the part of PBMs would be a far cry from the $38 trillion national debt.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extortion. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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