extort

/ɪkˈstɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈstɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈstȯrt/ (ame, mw)

extort — verb

  • extortpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • extortshe / she / it
  • extortedpast simple
  • extorting-ing form

1. to make someone hand over money, information, or another thing by frightening th

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make someone hand over money, information, or another thing by frightening them or using threats.

例句

The gang extorted money from shop owners by threatening to burn their stalls.

extort + money + from + person

A corrupt guard extorted extra fees from migrants at the border crossing.

extort + payment + from + person

同義詞
  • blackmail

    usually means threatening to reveal damaging information unless someone gives money or does something

  • coerce

    broader and more formal; often focuses on forcing an action, not specifically obtaining a thing

  • rob

    means taking directly by force, not making the victim hand something over through threats

文法句型

extort + noun + from + person

extort + money/confession/information + from + person

用法筆記

The thing obtained is usually the direct object, and the person forced to give it usually follows with 'from'. It often describes criminal or corrupt use of threats, especially for money, a confession, or sensitive information.

常見錯誤

❌The clerk extorted me to pay a late fee.
✅The clerk extorted a late fee from me.
💡'extort' usually takes the thing obtained as the object, not the person plus an infinitive.
❌The boys extorted the old man with money.
✅The boys extorted money from the old man.
💡use 'from' before the person who is forced to give something.