as in to threaten
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmail
Verb
-
That missed payment was a major contributor to the union’s decision to threaten a strike, further accelerating the trucking company’s demise as more clients diverted freight to other customers.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Mar. 2025 -
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Risks remain—policy shifts could stall, or DOGE’s efficiency drive might squeeze budgets—but the upside potential is tantalizing.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Goldman Sachs previously estimated that these tariffs could increase inflation by 1 percent while squeezing U.S. company profits and risking retaliatory measures from other nations.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Now, for the 2025 Oscars, a handful of stars continued to drive that style trend after the red carpet for Hollywood biggest night, leaning into the naked vibe at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, which has become somewhat of a tradition.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Mar. 2025
-
So, does your workplace use curiosity to drive meaningful results?—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
More recently, she was accused of trying to extort $25,000 from a longtime political opponent her office later charged with a felony.—
Nate Gartrell,
The Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Mayers didn’t testify in his own defense, but his lawyer Joe Tacopina subjected Ephron to a bruising cross-examination that accused him of fabricating the shell casing evidence to try to extort his wealthy friend with a $30 million lawsuit.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Sitting at 20-12 on the season, North Carolina knows that a strong showing in the ACC Tournament is crucial to impressing the selection committee and locking down a spot in the Big Dance.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
-
The move was a bit surprising, as the outfielder – limited to DH duties thus far following Tommy John surgery – has impressed this spring and seemed to be in the running for a roster spot with Giancarlo Stanton out indefinitely.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Trump’s rocky relationship with Zelensky goes back five years—to when Trump first held up military assistance Congress had authorized for Ukraine to coerce Zelensky into investigating his political rival Joe Biden.—
Brian Bennett,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
-
A week later, the White House used the threat of tariffs to coerce Mexico into dispatching thousands of additional troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to combat fentanyl smuggling.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
However, much to her dismay, she was then forced to treat Damien amid the chaos at the hospital as the heat dome in Seattle continued.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
You are not forced to go far away to film something that’s far.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Blackmail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmail. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share