extort

Word family

Related topics: Crime

ex·tort /ɪkˈstɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ verb [transitiveT]

SCCto illegally force someone to give you something, especially money, by threatening them 敲诈，勒索〔尤指钱财〕 → blackmail

extort something from somebody

Rebels extorted money from local villagers.

叛乱分子向当地村民勒索钱财。

—extortion /ɪkˈstɔːʃən $ -ɔːr-/ noun [uncountableU]

He faces charges of kidnapping and extortion.

他面临绑架和勒索的指控。

—extortionist noun [countableC]

Examples from the Corpus

extort• Jackson, 22, was arrested earlier this year and charged with attempting to extort $ 40 million from Cosby.• There isn't the money left in Deptford to extort.• He was arrested by police, who he said, planted cannabis on him to extort a bribe.• Lear pretends to be offering a gift, but is in fact extorting a bribe.• Read in studio A bogus policeman has tried to abduct two children and to extort an on-the-spot fine from a driver.• But he can not extort blessings here.• It's not as if there was a stash of notes that he could extort from Stone and take away with him.• The terrorist groups have been extorting hundreds of millions of dollars.• He sought to extort money by threatening to reveal secrets about his boss's private life.• For years the gang extorted money from local storekeepers.• The Mafia makes most of its money from prostitution and extorting money from small businesses.

From Longman Business Dictionary

extortex·tort /ɪkˈstɔːt-ɔːrt/ verb [transitiveT]LAW

to illegally force someone to give you money by threatening them

extort money from/out of somebody

Smith was arrested on suspicion of having extorted property and money from at least 18 clients.

—extortion noun [uncountableU]

He pled guilty to charges of extortion, fraud, tax evasion and obstruction of justice.

—extortioner noun [countableC]

—extortionist noun [countableC]

Origin extort

(1400-1500) Latin past participle of extorquere, from torquere “to twist”

ex·tort verb