Library / English Dictionary

EXTORT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Get or cause to become in a difficult or laborious manner

Synonyms:

extort; wring from

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "extort" is one way to...):

obtain (come into possession of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "extort"):

prise; pry (make an uninvited or presumptuous inquiry)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Obtain by coercion or intimidation

Example:

They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him

Synonyms:

extort; gouge; rack; squeeze; wring

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "extort" is one way to...):

fleece; gazump; hook; overcharge; pluck; plume; rob; soak; surcharge (rip off; ask an unreasonable price)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "extort"):

bleed (get or extort (money or other possessions) from someone)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something from somebody

Derivation:

extortion (the felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence))

extortion (an exorbitant charge)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Obtain through intimidation

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "extort" is one way to...):

take (take by force)

Domain category:

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "extort"):

blackmail (obtain through threats)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something from somebody

Derivation:

extortion (unjust exaction (as by the misuse of authority))

Credits

 Context examples: 

A negotiation was opened through the medium of the ambassador, Sam; and after much pacing to and fro, till, I think, the said Sam's calves must have ached with the exercise, permission was at last, with great difficulty, extorted from the rigorous Sibyl, for the three to wait upon her in a body.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

To atone for this conduct therefore, Elinor took immediate possession of the post of civility which she had assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings, talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her whenever she could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both with all possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their ease and enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them choose their own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their preferring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)