extort

2 syllables

Quick answer

As a verb, extort means take or seize from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity.

Meanings of extort

7 meanings

verb

To take or seize from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity.
“to extort contributions from the vanquished”
“to extort confessions of guilt”
legalTo obtain by means of the offense of extortion.
medicineophthalmologyTo twist outwards.
Obtain through intimidation
Obtain by coercion or intimidation
“They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss”
“They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him”
Similar: squeeze, rack, gouge, wring
Get or cause to become in a difficult or laborious manner
Similar: wring from