extortionist
Americannoun
Usage
What does extortionist mean? An extortionist is someone who practices extortion—the act of using 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. The word extortioner means the same exact thing. Extortion and the verb extort are commonly used in this literal sense, but they can also be used in a few more general or figurative ways. Extort can mean to overcharge someone for something or to obtain through relentless and unreasonable demands. In both of these cases, a person who does so can be called an extortionist or an extortioner. These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion. Example: Mobsters are often extortionists, meaning they extort money from small business owners through intimidation.
Etymology
Origin of extortionist
Vocabulary lists containing extortionist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
O'Brien tops the trainer standings, and countryman Johnny Murtagh heads the jockeys' list after a 152-1 double with Sole Power in the King's Stand Stakes and Extortionist in the closing Windsor Castle Stakes.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2013
More astonishing than the committee's blockbuster statement was its closing-hour suggestion that Extortionist Dio provided Hoffa with secret miniature recording devices as well as recording experts.
From Time Magazine Archive
Troast suffered his roundest wallop early in October, when newspapers broke the story that Troast had asked New York's Tom Dewey to commute the sentence of Labor Extortionist Joey Fay.
From Time Magazine Archive
President George Meany on a trip to see Extortionist Fay, hadn't spoken a word during the visit.
From Time Magazine Archive
Even New York Labor Extortionist Johnny Dio was willing to put out $20,000 of his own money to start a Teamsters' local.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
