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Definition of loansharking

loansharking

/ˈloʊnˌʃɑːrkɪŋ/
loan · shark · ing
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loansharking Lexical Profile

loansharking Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The practice of lending money at excessively high, illegal rates of interest, often accompanied by threats, intimidation, or extortion to enforce repayment.

Example

"The investigation uncovered a widespread network of illegal gambling and loansharking operating across the city."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for loansharking

• Nearby Words

loanable
loanee
loaner
loansharking
loanword
loath
loathe

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Loansharking. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/loansharking
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