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extortionist

or ex·tor·tion·er

[ik-stawr-shuh-nist]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR extortionist ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who engages in extortion.

Origin of extortionist

First recorded in 1880–85; extortion + -ist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for extortionist

mobster, criminal, shark

Examples from the Web for extortionist

Contemporary Examples of extortionist

There have been reports of a city, often suggested to be in Brazil, having its electricity cut off by extortionist hackers.
Super Bowl Blackout Should Help Build Momentum for a Smart Grid
John Avlon
February 5, 2013
The lawyers accused Stephens of being an “extortionist” and handed him his own criminal background report, he said.
‘I Always Felt It Was Creepy’: Stories of Sex With Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash
Maria Elena Fernandez
December 6, 2012

Historical Examples of extortionist

More often, it is the by product and end result of lobbying, political hand bending and extortionist muscle.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin
Driver an extortionist; but I knew the exact distance, to the tenth of a kilometre.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 62, Jan 27, 1872
Various
Nor do I think anything in her own life would give a blackmailer or an extortionist anything to go on.
Sentiment, Inc.
Poul William Anderson

Word Origin and History for extortionist

n.

1885, from extortion + -ist. Earlier in the same sense were extorter (1590s), extortioner (late 14c.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper