extort Hear it!

extort Definition

ex·tort (ek stôrt′, ik-)

transitive verb

to get (money, etc.) from someone by violence, threats, misuse of authority, etc.; exact or wrest (from)

Etymology: < L extortus, pp. of extorquere, to twist or turn out < ex-, out + torquere, to twist: see tort

extort Related Forms
ex·tort′er noun ex·tor′·tive adjective
extort Synonyms

extort

v.

extract, wrench, wrest; see bleed 3, force 1. See syn. study at extract.

extort Law Definition

v

To wrongfully take something of value from another by the threat of force or other coercive measure.
extort Usage Examples

Object

  • confession: She had tacitly said herself that under the bitter pains of the rack they would be able to extort a false confession from her.
  • money: Oxfam Hong Kong spokeswoman Christy Ko said the emails were an attempt to extort money from people at a time of tragedy.
  • bribe: Back in November I wrote about the problem of officials who extort bribes.
  • sum: They extort vast sums of money both before and after the hazardous journeys they arrange.
  • cash: The virus is the latest example of so-called " ransomware " that tries to extort cash from victims.
  • payment: Some are for security checks, others to extort small payments of money.

Modifying Another Word

  • often: In the meantime the Chief Priests and their Sadducaean supporters serviced the temple financed by supposedly voluntary tithes that were often extorted.