verb

extort

ihk-STAWT

Extort (verb) means to obtain money or something else by threats, force, or abuse of power. Example: “The gang tried to extort money from local shop owners.”

verb

To obtain money or something else by threats, force, or abuse of power.

"The gang tried to extort money from local shop owners."

"He was accused of trying to extort a confession from the suspect."

How to use extort

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo force someone to hand something over through threats or pressure.

Easily confused with

extract →

Common pairings

extort money extort a confession

Word forms

extorted past tense, extorts singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The gang tried to _____ money from local shop owners.

Etymology

From Latin extorquere, "to twist or wrench out" — from ex- ("out") plus torquere ("to twist").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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squeeze rack gouge wring wring from

Related words

press stuff pressure hurt contract nick suffer twist

Frequently asked questions

What does “extort” mean?

The word “extort” means to obtain money or something else by threats, force, or abuse of power. In plain terms, to force someone to hand something over through threats or pressure.

How do you pronounce “extort”?

“Extort” is pronounced ihk-STAWT (/ɪkˈstɔː(ɹ)t/ in IPA).

How do you use “extort” in a sentence?

Here is “extort” used in a sentence: “The gang tried to extort money from local shop owners.”

What part of speech is “extort”?

“Extort” is a verb.

Where does the word “extort” come from?

The word “extort” comes from Latin. From Latin extorquere, "to twist or wrench out" — from ex- ("out") plus torquere ("to twist").

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press stuff pressure hurt contract nick suffer twist