extort
were extorting
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past progressiveof extort.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
They alleged that Church leaders were extorting monthly payments and micro-managing dioceses that used to enjoy operational autonomy.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2025
Cohen acknowledged once telling a prosecutor he felt that Daniels and her lawyer were extorting Trump.
From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2024
Among other presumably harrowing adventures, Politkovskaya survived the bombing that leveled the Chechen capital, saved the life of a dying refugee’s son and confronted drunken soldiers who were extorting civilians.
From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2022
To a correspondent who grumbled that aldermen were extorting a fee to preside over marriages, he wrote, "if I had time I would marry you all for nothing."
From New York Times ● Jan. 1, 2013
It disclosed, at great length, how the railroads in their schedule of freight rates were extorting from the Government fifty per cent. more than from private parties.
From Great Fortunes from Railroads by Gustavus Myers
