extort

[ik-stawrt]

verb (used with object)

1. Law.

   1. to wrest or wring (money, information, etc.) from a person by violence, intimidation, or abuse of authority; obtain by force, torture, threat, or the like.

   2. to take illegally by reason of one's office.

2. to compel (something) of a person or thing.

   Her wit and intelligence extorted their admiration.

extort

/ ɪkˈstɔːt /

verb

1. to secure (money, favours, etc) by intimidation, violence, or the misuse of influence or authority

2. to obtain by importunate demands

   the children extorted a promise of a trip to the zoo

3. to overcharge for (something, esp interest on a loan)

Other Word Forms

• extorter noun
• extortive adjective
• nonextortive adjective
• unextorted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extort¹

First recorded in 1525–1500; from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + torquēre “to twist”; tort ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of extort¹

C16: from Latin extortus wrenched out, from extorquēre to wrest away, from torquēre to twist, wrench

Synonym Study

See extract.

Example Sentences

But her political career ended when her husband, Bill Collins, a dentist and businessman, was convicted in 1993 of extorting money from people who had business before the state while his wife was governor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“By extorting innocent people, they can utilize the money to buy weapons,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The government is responsible for fishing licenses -- but a lack of controls allows for money laundering, fishermen and couriers to be extorted by gangs, with contraband often added to their outbound shipments, the experts said.

Read more on Barron's

Yet the Democrats are bloody-minded after the routs in Virginia and New Jersey this week, and think they have fresh leverage to extort Republicans to bail out the Affordable Care Act.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The lawsuit also claims Tidmarsh attempted to “extort and solicit” continued payment from another Tang company.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• coerce 
• elicit 
• exact 
• extract 
• wrest 
• wring 

When To Use

What does extort mean?

Extort means to use violence, threats, intimidation, or pressure from one’s authority to force someone to hand over money (or something else of value) or do something they don’t want to do.Extort is commonly used in this literal way, but it can also be used in a few more general or figurative ways.It can mean to overcharge someone for something, as in If you ask me, the textbooks companies are extorting us by coming out with new editions every year. It can also mean to obtain through relentless and unreasonable demands, as in The kids are good at extorting treats from their grandparents just by constantly asking.These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion. More generally, the word extortion refers to the act of extorting. Such actions can be described as extortionary. A person who engages in extortion can be called an extortionist or an extortioner.Example: The mob regularly extorts money from small business owners through intimidation.