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
But his problems didn’t stop there: the investigator was also caught at the center of a massive crime enterprise that involved police corruption, drug deals, prostitution rings, extortion and more.
—
Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 23 July 2025
In a court filing, a DHS official also stated Moreno had two active arrest warrants in Aragua, Venezuela, for three felony charges including theft of a vehicle, strong-arm robbery/hijacking of a vehicle and extortion.
—ProPublica, 23 July 2025
And in an echo of his disenfranchisement of Kurdish politicians, Turkish prosecutors arrested 16 mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the leading opposition party, on charges of corruption and extortion.
—Ragip Soylu, Time, 18 July 2025
Guerrero, 42, is credited with growing Tren de Aragua from a prison gang involved in extortion and bribery, to an influential organization that threatens public safety throughout the Western Hemisphere.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for extortion
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Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 23 July 2025
In a court filing, a DHS official also stated Moreno had two active arrest warrants in Aragua, Venezuela, for three felony charges including theft of a vehicle, strong-arm robbery/hijacking of a vehicle and extortion.
—ProPublica, 23 July 2025
And in an echo of his disenfranchisement of Kurdish politicians, Turkish prosecutors arrested 16 mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the leading opposition party, on charges of corruption and extortion.
—Ragip Soylu, Time, 18 July 2025
Guerrero, 42, is credited with growing Tren de Aragua from a prison gang involved in extortion and bribery, to an influential organization that threatens public safety throughout the Western Hemisphere.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extortion. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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
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