extortionists

noun

plural of extortionist
as in gangsters
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats tortured by a gang of extortionists into revealing the combination for the money vault

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 extortionists The restaurant owner, who did not wish to be identified because his family is still in India, said extortionists have threatened to kill them. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 As the bomb squad works to disarm it, FBI rushes to catch the extortionists. — William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026 These kinds of sweeping outages are typically the result either of ransomware attacks, where online extortionists paralyze corporate networks in the hope of payment, or deliberate digital sabotage. — Reuters, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025 These kinds of sweeping outages are typically the result either of ransomware attacks, where online extortionists paralyse corporate networks in the hope of payment, or deliberate sabotage. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025 Combined with other high-tech attacks, such as deepfake phishing attempts, AI agents will create new and potentially highly problematic avenues of attack for hackers, fraudsters and extortionists. — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extortionists
  1. gangsters
  2. thugs
  3. blackmailers
  4. racketeers
Noun
  • Determined to extricate his family from their clutches, Eddie tries to play the gangsters at their own game.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 July 2026
  • Sangha said that gangsters intimidating immigrants in the Central Valley is far more prevalent than reported.
    — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of gangsters
Noun
  • Threatening to limit mail-in voting, adding ridiculous ID requirements, or staging thugs at polling places are other possible ways to convince you to stay home.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2026
  • To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
Definition of thugs
Noun
  • Despite paying off blackmailers and marrying Lady Olivia Hedges (Danielle Galligan) to protect his secret, Arthur still loses his father’s Parliament seat after getting caught committing election fraud.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Grandchildren are being summoned to help grandparents deal with blackmailers.
    — Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of blackmailers
Noun
  • The characters were based on a real family of bookmakers and racketeers who once lived in England.
    — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026
  • When Ferrara was starting out, private investment in low-budget films was spurred by tax loopholes, a way for doctors, dentists, and racketeers to get rid of extra cash that would otherwise wind up in Uncle Sam’s grubby mitts.
    — Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of racketeers

Browse Nearby Words

extortionist
extortionists
extorts
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Cite this Entry

“Extortionists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extortionists. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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