extortion
noun
ex·tor·tion
ik-ˈstȯr-shən 
1
: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property
especially
: the offense committed by an official engaging in such practice
2
: something extorted
especially
: a gross overcharge
Examples of extortion in a Sentence
He was arrested and charged with extortion.
six dollars for a cup of coffee is just plain extortion
Recent Examples on the Web
Ibrahim, of Portage, and James Gerodemos are the only defendants to be charged in all of the extortion counts involving Victim #1 and Victim #2.
—
Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
His actions suggest a pattern of behavior that could have exposed him to blackmail or extortion, said Emma Davidson Tribbs, a founding director of the National Women’s Defense League.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
That sentencing hearing is now set to take place in the middle of September, nearly a year after jurors found Diamantis guilty of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.
—Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
The sites mix factual assertions about their targets with unsubstantiated conspiracies and defamatory claims of misconduct ranging from extortion and embezzlement to drug dealing and prostitution.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
His actions suggest a pattern of behavior that could have exposed him to blackmail or extortion, said Emma Davidson Tribbs, a founding director of the National Women’s Defense League.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
That sentencing hearing is now set to take place in the middle of September, nearly a year after jurors found Diamantis guilty of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.
—Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
The sites mix factual assertions about their targets with unsubstantiated conspiracies and defamatory claims of misconduct ranging from extortion and embezzlement to drug dealing and prostitution.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extortion. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
extortion
noun
ex·tor·tion
ik-ˈstȯr-shən
1
: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property
specifically
: the act or practice of extorting by a public official acting under color of office
2
: the crime of extorting
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
