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blackmail
[blak-meyl]
noun
any payment extorted by intimidation, as by threats of injurious revelations or accusations.
the extortion of such payment.
He confessed rather than suffer the dishonor of blackmail.
a tribute formerly exacted in the north of England and in Scotland by freebooting chiefs for protection from pillage.
verb (used with object)
to extort money from (a person) by the use of threats.
to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc..
The strikers claimed they were blackmailed into signing the new contract.
blackmail
/ ˈæˌɪ /
noun
the act of attempting to obtain money by intimidation, as by threats to disclose discreditable information
the exertion of pressure or threats, esp unfairly, in an attempt to influence someone's actions
verb
to exact or attempt to exact (money or anything of value) from (a person) by threats or intimidation; extort
to attempt to influence the actions of (a person), esp by unfair pressure or threats
Other Word Forms
- blackmailer noun
- ˈ쳾 noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of blackmail1
Word History and Origins
Origin of blackmail1
Example Sentences
But AI is capable of more, including the ability to blackmail its users.
The blackmail message, which includes a racist term, was sent to the M&S CEO and seven other executives.
Boyce’s defense: Lee had blackmailed him into espionage by threatening to expose a letter he had written, while stoned on hashish, alleging secret knowledge of CIA malfeasance.
"We see blackmail across all frontier models - regardless of what goals they're given," he added.
"It's blackmail," insists The Edge, the famously unflappable guitarist seeming temporarily flapped.
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When To Use
Blackmail is the act of attempting to force someone to do something or give up something valuable by threatening negative consequences if they don’t, especially revealing negative information about them.Blackmail can also be used as a verb meaning to do such a thing.Less commonly, blackmail can refer specifically to a payment made due to threats or coercion.Perhaps the most common blackmail scenario is forcing someone to pay money in order to avoid having a negative secret revealed about them.Blackmail is a serious crime, but sometimes the word is applied to less serious situations. For example, making your sibling do your chores so you don’t tattle on them to your parents for something they did is definitely blackmail.Example: My life is an open book, so you have nothing to blackmail me with—everyone already knows all my secrets!
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