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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of extortion Cyber extortion, where hackers steal information like sensitive user data or trade secrets, is a common criminal tactic. Kevin Collier, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025 Amid evolving cybersecurity threats, such as ransomware attacks using double or even triple extortion tactics, having regular incident rehearsals sets the tone for resilience. Raymond Umerley, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Even today, when people complain that much of the excitement of live bidding has disappeared, salesrooms at the major auction houses retain a singular atmosphere of politesse and extortion. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 The lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court this week accuses the plaintiff, known in court records as Jane Doe, of extortion, defamation, malicious prosecution and other claims. Jeff McDonald, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extortion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extortion
Noun
  • When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB.
    Caitlin White, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Byron had his arms wrapped around the company's HR chief, Kristin Cabot, and subsequently faced cheating allegations after they were spotted on the jumbotron.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Even if what Weyland-Yutani has is blood-sucking, eye-gouging, and chest-bursting alien monsters.
    James Grebey, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Normally, the ions slip between the atomic layers of the anode, a process called intercalation, but when the space between the layers is all filled up—as can happen during overcharging—there’s nowhere else for the lithium to go but onto the surface.
    Weiyang Li, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Aug. 2018
Noun
  • Then Denver slapped him with a four-year, $60 million deal that now looks like highway robbery compared to the rest of the NFL’s inflated edge market.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 July 2025
  • This was a dangerous situation and was literally highway robbery.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extortion. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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