extortion

Extortion is the act of extorting—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 verb extort is commonly used in this literal way, but it can also be used in a more general or figurative way meaning to overcharge for something or to obtain through relentless and unreasonable demands. These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion, as in The way they raise tuition every semester is extortion, if you ask me.

A person who engages in extortion can be called an extortionist or an extortioner. Such actions can be described as extortionary.

Example: The mob regularly uses extortion to squeeze money out of small business owners through intimidation.

The first records of the word extortion come from the 1200s. It ultimately comes from the Latin extortus, meaning “wrenched out,” from the verb extorquēre, “to wrest away,” from torquēre, “to twist.”

When a mobster walks into a shop and says, “Nice place you got here—it would be a shame if something happened to it,” they’re threatening to make bad things (destruction and violence) happen unless you pay them not to do those bad things. That’s extortion. Extortion can happen in a lot of different ways, such as through intimidation and threats like these or through violence. Blackmail is a specific type of extortion. Sometimes, people extort money or favors from other people by abusing their power or authority. All of these kinds of extortion are serious crimes that can carry a lengthy prison sentence.

The word is also often used in a more general way. It’s especially used in the context of politics to criticize politicians for using methods that are similar to or that some consider to be extortion.

What’s the difference between bribery and extortion? Extortion is often the act of requiring a bribe from someone, or forcing someone to provide money or favors in some other corrupt way. Bribery typically refers to the act of bribing or the exchange itself.

What are some other forms related to extortion?

• extortionary
• extortionist (noun)
• extortioner (noun)
• extort (verb)

What are some synonyms for extortion?

• coercion

What are some words that share a root or word element with extortion? 

• tort
• torque

What are some words that often get used in discussing extortion?

• scheme
• racket
• racketeering
• shakedown
• blackmail
• theft
• bribe
• threat
• intimidate
• pressure
• force
• demand
• pay

What are some words extortion may be commonly confused with?

• bribery

Extortion is often used in a legal context, but it can also be used in a figurative way.

BREAKING: A former New York state Senate leader and his son have been convicted of bribery and extortion charges.

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 17, 2018

Holding someone against their will is called kidnapping. Posting to someone’s social media without their permission or under duress is fraud and extortion.

Not exactly what innocent people do, is it?

— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 18, 2020

At the end of a week of billionaires whining about anti-billionaire sentiment and being called billionaires, the biggest billionaire, a newspaper owner, reacts heroically to an extortion threat by the billionaire president’s newspaper-owning pal.

It just keeps jumping sharks.

— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) February 8, 2019

Which of the following actions is a form of extortion?

A. blackmail
B. theft by intimidation
C. abuse of power for favors
D. all of the above