extort
verb (used with object)
- 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.
- to take illegally by reason of one's office.
Origin of extort
Synonyms for extort
Related Words for extorted
extract, wrest, exact, coerce, elicit, wring, gouge, force, soak, fleece, get, pinch, skin, milk, obtain, ice, educe, evince, stick, wrenchExamples from the Web for extorted
Contemporary Examples of extorted
Since 2005, Somali pirates have kidnapped hundreds of people—and extorted hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom payments.
Romney got the blame for trying, but none of the gains he extorted from the hapless Jim Lehrer.
Robert Shrum: Obama Had Everything On the Line and Delivered, While Romney SputteredRobert Shrum
October 17, 2012
And it left some Democrats feeling like they had been extorted and wondering what the next demand might be.
A leading candidate to be commander in chief putting himself in an easy position to be extorted.
Historical Examples of extorted
At the rehearsals not a word could be extorted from the Angel Raphael.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
I extorted and oppressed as long as I was able; while ye have power, get what you can.
Selections from the Table Talk of Martin LutherMartin Luther
A cargo of produce for the schooner perhaps could be extorted—and, who knows?
Lord JimJoseph Conrad
It was rather admiration she extorted by her competent serenity.
'Twixt Land & SeaJoseph Conrad
Mrs. Travers extorted from d'Alcacer a fresh tribute of curiosity.
The RescueJoseph Conrad