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
Shell fired back on Monday, accusing Cipriani of defamation and extortion and of seeking to exploit their fleeting association to extract an undeserved payday.
—
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Shell filed a cross complaint against Cipriani for defamation and extortion.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Analysts warn that North Korean IT workers are targeting larger organizations, increasing extortion attempts and seeking out employers that pay salaries in cryptocurrency.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Refugees like him were also targeted by the police for extortion.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Shell filed a cross complaint against Cipriani for defamation and extortion.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Analysts warn that North Korean IT workers are targeting larger organizations, increasing extortion attempts and seeking out employers that pay salaries in cryptocurrency.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Refugees like him were also targeted by the police for extortion.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extortion
Noun
-
There is no rampant cheating or election fraud in California.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Research shows that artificial intelligence tools can support learning, but also has raised concerns, including students’ overreliance, cheating, and the potential degradation of critical thinking and engagement.—
Jeanne Beatrix Law,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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President Lee Jae Myung also advised his government to crack down on oil refinery companies and gas stations to prevent price-gouging while making efforts to secure supply ships that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
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The public better wake up, because the creativity of the MTA, and Hochul’s gouging of a disinterested and unwise public, have no limits.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 2026.
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