extortion
extortion Lexical Profile
extortion Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The practice of obtaining something, especially money or property, through force, intimidation, or threats.
"The corrupt official was arrested and charged with bribery and extortion."
An excessive, unfair, or exorbitant charge or price demanded for goods or services.
"Charging twenty dollars for a bottle of water at the concert venue is pure extortion."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably in casual speech, extortion involves obtaining money or property through general threats of future harm or abuse of authority, whereas blackmail specifically involves threatening to reveal damaging or embarrassing secrets.
• Rhymes for extortion
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English extorcioun, borrowed from Old French extorsion and Late Latin extortio, from Latin extorquere ('to twist out, wrench out, obtain by force'), combining ex- ('out') and torquere ('to twist').