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definitions

extort

[ ik-stawrt ]
/ ɪkˈstɔrt /
||

verb (used with object)

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.
to compel (something) of a person or thing: Her wit and intelligence extorted their admiration.

RELATED WORDS

extract, wrest, exact, coerce, elicit, wring, gouge, force, soak, fleece, get, pinch, skin, milk, obtain, ice, educe, evince, stick, wrench

Nearby words

  1. extn.,
  2. extol,
  3. extoll,
  4. extorsion,
  5. extorsive,
  6. extortion,
  7. extortionary,
  8. extortionate,
  9. extortionately,
  10. extortionist

Origin of extort

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + torquēre to twist
SYNONYMS FOR extort
1. See extract.
Related formsex·tort·er, nounex·tor·tive, adjectivenon·ex·tor·tive, adjectiveun·ex·tort·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for extorted

British Dictionary definitions for extorted

extort

/ (ɪkˈstɔːt) /

verb (tr)

to secure (money, favours, etc) by intimidation, violence, or the misuse of influence or authority
to obtain by importunate demandsthe children extorted a promise of a trip to the zoo
to overcharge for (something, esp interest on a loan)
Derived Formsextorter, nounextortive, adjective

Word Origin for extort

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