SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
extortion
noun
Obtaining something through threats or coercive pressure.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Obtaining through threats
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topBlackmail usually uses threatened disclosure; a shakedown is an informal term. Coercion is broader than obtaining a payment.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See extortion in use
In the novel, the villain's demands for payment amounted to extortion.
The manager's extortion succeeded when a threatened shopkeeper surrendered goods to prevent the manager from spreading a damaging accusation he knew was false.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license