Definition

A person who illegally obtains money or favors from someone by threatening them or using force.

Example

The police arrested the extortionist who had been threatening local businesses for money.

Conversation

Did you hear about that extortionist who was caught in town?

Yeah, it’s crazy how they were able to pull that off!

I wonder how many people fell for their tricks.

Hopefully, more people will be cautious now.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Extortionist → It is formed from "ex-" (meaning out of or from) and "tortio" (from Latin "torere", meaning to twist or distort) combined with the suffix "-ist" (meaning one who practices or is concerned with). An extortionist is someone who twists or distorts the law to obtain money or favors from others, often through threats.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who takes money 'out of' ('ex-') others by 'twisting' the situation ('tortio'). This helps you remember that an extortionist is someone who uses threats to obtain what they want.

Visually Confused Words