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blackmail

black·mail

blackmail

 
 
pronunciation:
blaek meIl
parts of speech:
noun, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb)
part of speech: noun
definition 1: payment forced by threats to reveal damaging information; extortion.
The crook made his living from blackmail and swindling.
synonyms:
extortion, hush money
similar words:
bribe, graft, payoff, protection, ransom, sop
definition 2: the process of forcing such payment or attempting to do so.
synonyms:
extortion, shakedown
similar words:
coercion, exaction, graft
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: blackmails, blackmailing, blackmailed
definition: to force or attempt to force (someone) to pay money or perform some action under the threat of having damaging information revealed.
synonyms:
extort, squeeze
similar words:
bleed, buy, coerce, extract, milk, mulct
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: blackmailer (n.)