Extortionist

An extortionist is an individual who obtains something, typically money or property, from another person through coercion, threats, or the abuse of power. They exploit fear or vulnerability to compel the victim to comply with their demands. Extortion can involve threats of violence, exposure of damaging information, economic ruin, or other harmful consequences. The extortionist's actions are illegal and represent a form of criminal activity aimed at personal gain through illicit means.

Extortionist meaning with examples

• The investigation revealed the CEO was an extortionist, leveraging private information to pressure competitors into unfavorable business deals. His schemes left several companies on the verge of financial collapse.
• Local authorities arrested a man suspected of being an extortionist after he threatened to release compromising photographs of prominent residents if they did not pay a substantial sum of money.
• The mob boss, a notorious extortionist, controlled much of the city's underground economy, forcing businesses to pay protection money under threat of violence or vandalism to keep their businesses safe.
• The government cracked down on a corrupt official, exposing him as an extortionist who solicited bribes from contractors seeking government projects, undermining public trust and fair competition.
• A disgruntled former employee used confidential company data, becoming an extortionist, threatening to leak sensitive information if his demands for a large severance package were not met, causing substantial financial losses.