extort
v. C1 Advanced US //ɛkˈstɔɹt// UK //ɛkstˈɔːt// ex·tort
v. to force someone to give you money or something else by using threats or violence. It is a serious crime that involves making someone feel afraid.
v. to obtain something, typically money, by force or threats of violence. Often used in legal contexts to describe the act of coercion for personal gain.
The criminals tried to extort money from the shopkeeper.
The gang was arrested after they attempted to extort protection money from local businesses.
The witness claimed that the defendant had tried to extort a confession by threatening to release incriminating evidence during the trial.
Borrowed from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquere (“to twist or wrench out, to extort”); from ex (“out”) + -tort, from torqueō (“twist, turn”).