Extort

Pronunciation: /ɪkˈstɔrt/

Definitions of extort

verb to obtain something by force, threats, or unfair means

Example Sentences

A1 The criminal tried to extort money from the shopkeeper.

A2 The bully extorted lunch money from the younger students.

B1 The corrupt official was caught extorting bribes from businessmen.

B2 The hacker attempted to extort sensitive information from the company's database.

C1 The blackmailer was arrested for attempting to extort money from a high-profile celebrity.

C2 The organized crime syndicate was known for using violence to extort money from local businesses.

Examples of extort in a Sentence

formal The criminal attempted to extort money from the business owner by threatening to harm his family.

informal The bully tried to extort lunch money from the younger students at school.

slang The scammer was trying to extort some quick cash from unsuspecting victims.

figurative The difficult situation seemed to extort all of her energy and emotions.

Grammatical Forms of extort

• past tense: extorted
• plural: extorts
• comparative: more extort
• superlative: most extort
• present tense: extort
• future tense: will extort
• perfect tense: have extorted
• continuous tense: is extorting
• singular: extort
• positive degree: extort
• infinitive: to extort
• gerund: extorting
• participle: extorted

Origin and Evolution of extort

First Known Use: 1400 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'extort' originated from the Latin word 'extortus', which means 'wrenched away'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe forcefully obtaining something from someone, the word 'extort' has retained its meaning over time, emphasizing coercion and dishonesty in obtaining something from others.