extortionist

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablelegal

   A person who forces someone to hand over money or valuables by using threats, such as threats to harm them or reveal secrets.

   Grammar: Countable: an extortionist, several extortionists. The crime itself is called extortion.

   Patterns

   • an extortionist demands something
   • be threatened by an extortionist

   The extortionist demanded ten thousand dollars or he would leak the photos.

   Police caught the extortionist when he collected the cash at the station.

   Shop owners in the district paid an extortionist every month out of fear.

2. 2nouncountableinformalfigurative

   Someone who charges far too much money for something people badly need, so that the price seems like a threat.

   Grammar: Used figuratively and informally: a landlord called an extortionist for his high rent.

   Patterns

   • call someone an extortionist

   Customers called the tow company extortionists for charging four hundred dollars.

   The ticket seller was an extortionist, charging triple the price outside the stadium.

   Some tenants accuse their landlord of being an extortionist.

Word forms

Common combinations

ruthless extortionist

The ruthless extortionist targeted small businesses.

gang of extortionists

A gang of extortionists forced the owners to pay.

extortionist demands

The extortionist demands were passed on to the police.

arrest an extortionist

Detectives hoped to arrest the extortionist during the payment.

pay an extortionist

She refused to pay the extortionist, even after the threats.

Synonyms and how they differ

blackmailer

A blackmailer threatens to reveal damaging secrets, while an extortionist may threaten any kind of harm, including violence.

racketeer

A racketeer runs an organized criminal operation, often a protection racket, so the word suggests a gang rather than one threatening person.

extortioner

Extortioner is a less common variant with the same meaning, now found mostly in older or legal writing.

swindler

A swindler gets money by tricking people, whereas an extortionist gets it by threatening them.

Word family

extort verb

to get money or something else by force or threats

extortion noun

the crime of getting money by threats

extortionate adjective

far too high, used for prices

extortionately adverb

in a way that is far too expensive

Commonly confused: extortionist or extortionate?

Practice

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