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
Google has confirmed that victims are receiving extortion demands.
—
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Authorities across the region have linked the group to human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, contract killings, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
The charge of use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion can lead to a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
One of their most profitable strategies this summer will be extortion, security analysts say.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Authorities across the region have linked the group to human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, contract killings, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
The charge of use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion can lead to a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
One of their most profitable strategies this summer will be extortion, security analysts say.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extortion
Noun
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There is no evidence of any widespread cheating in Colorado elections, which have been staunchly defended by county clerks throughout the state, most of whom are Republican.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
9 Dec. 2025
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Her subsequent attempts to uncover some sign of infidelity — or at least a scrap of emotional cheating to justify her own — make everyone so uncomfortable that Dylan eventually just calls it and tells everyone to leave.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Curtain calls Pankration was a form of sport invented by the ancient Greeks, a combination of wrestling and boxing in which almost everything short of biting and gouging was permitted.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Nov. 2025
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Newsom had spent months demonizing refiners for price-gouging, but when two refineries announced plans to shut down, raising the possibility of sharp gasoline price hikes, Newsom shifted to maintaining fuel supplies and encouraging oil production to stave off imports.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Insurance rates that feel like highway robbery.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Nov. 2025
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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
Noun
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The fleecing of Kevin, who ProPublica agreed to identify by first name only, was a textbook example of pig butchering.—
Cezary Podkul,
ProPublica,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Jeevarajan’s team also subjected batteries to overcharging and to electrical shorts.—
Andrew Moseman,
IEEE Spectrum,
22 Nov. 2025
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But in January, Axon CEO and billionaire cofounder Rick Smith killed their deal, accusing Flock of overcharging and trying to lock customers into its products.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extortion. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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