extort

[ ik-stawrt ]
See synonyms for extort on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. Law.

    • 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.

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

Origin of extort

1
First recorded in 1525–1500; from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + torquēre “to twist”; see tort

synonym study For extort

1. See extract.

Other words from extort

  • ex·tort·er, noun
  • ex·tor·tive, adjective
  • non·ex·tor·tive, adjective
  • un·ex·tort·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for extort

extort

/ (ɪkˈstɔːt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to secure (money, favours, etc) by intimidation, violence, or the misuse of influence or authority

  2. to obtain by importunate demands: the children extorted a promise of a trip to the zoo

  1. to overcharge for (something, esp interest on a loan)

Origin of extort

1
C16: from Latin extortus wrenched out, from extorquēre to wrest away, from torquēre to twist, wrench

Derived forms of extort

  • extorter, noun
  • extortive, adjective

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