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extortionate

[ik-stawr-shuh-nit]
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adjective
  1. grossly excessive; exorbitant: extortionate prices.
  2. characterized by extortion, as persons: extortionate moneylenders.

Origin of extortionate

First recorded in 1780–90; extortion + -ate1
Related formsex·tor·tion·ate·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for extortionately

Historical Examples

  • It was an immense monopoly, extortionately used, and it was not resigned without a struggle.

    The World's Greatest Books, Vol XI.

    Edited by Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton

British Dictionary definitions for extortionately

extortionate

adjective
  1. (of prices, etc) excessive; exorbitant
  2. (of persons) using extortion
Derived Formsextortionately, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for extortionately

extortionate

adj.

1789, from extortion + -ate.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper