as in gangster
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats
the racketeer threatened to have his thugs vandalize the shop if the shopkeeper didn't pay him a monthly bribe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to blackmail
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of racketeer
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 15 Nov. 2024
And Connick learned firsthand about being a defendant: Federal prosecutors charged him in 1990 with racketeering and aiding a sports-betting operation.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024
Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2015
Parts of the city turned into wastelands of racketeers and alcoholics.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 4 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for racketeer
Noun
Williams back in April pleaded guilty to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations, or RICO, conspiracy.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 15 Nov. 2024
And Connick learned firsthand about being a defendant: Federal prosecutors charged him in 1990 with racketeering and aiding a sports-betting operation.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024
Verb
She was arrested and charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, usually reserved for drug racketeers and smugglers running large operations.
—Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2015
Parts of the city turned into wastelands of racketeers and alcoholics.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 4 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for racketeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racketeer
Noun
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The movie brings back Hemsworth’s Rake, who is tasked with a new mission — rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
18 Aug. 2025
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In the episode, which originally aired in 1968, the Enterprise crew lands on a planet with a 1920s gangster culture.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Peace isn’t easy to come by, though the motorcycle thugs who swing by to bully the locals and squeeze money out of the businesses don’t offer much resistance.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
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As the ship prepared to leave port, the G men arrived, handcuffed the thug and dragged him away.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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According to Gomez’s complaint, the woman sought to extort money from him and his law firm, Gomez Trial Attorneys, and to damage their reputations.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
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Correia was convicted in 2021 of 21 counts for defrauding investors in a smartphone app, extorting money from marijuana companies, and lying to the IRS.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The effort to claw back a sliver of federal spending comes just weeks after Republicans also muscled through Trump’s tax and spending cut bill without any Democratic support.—
Kevin Freking,
Twin Cities,
17 July 2025
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How one man raced 25 miles to save guests at his Texas RV park As the Guadalupe River muscled over its banks at speed, David Chambers knocked on one door after another at his RV resort.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Verb
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While many have expressed relief that schools are being encouraged — and in some cases coerced — to adopt policies to stem antisemitism, some are also concerned that the effort is also compromising free expression on campuses.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
23 July 2025
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But, as archaeologist Sean Winter writes, also like in the US, the reality involves a lot of people coerced into laboring for the benefit of the most powerful.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For a Dolphins team that forced just eight fumbles all of last season, Awuzie would certainly be able to boost those numbers.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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Twenty-three years later, the stock-heavy investor would have watched their nest egg fall massively during the dot-com bust and again in 2008, forcing painful withdrawals at the worst times.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The reptilian head, the jaws with sharpened teeth have menaced people in Aliens, Gremlins, Predator, and other movies.—
David Denby,
Vulture,
3 July 2025
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Iran has supplied Russia with its Shahed explosive drones, also known as kamikaze uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) that have long menaced Ukrainian cities.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racketeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racketeer. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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