as in to threaten
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blackmail
But is Duncan the devil who manipulates, lies and emotionally blackmails anyone in his orbit?
—
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Something Duncan says in a session with JoAnne leads her to unload some stock, like Martha Stewart in 2004, and Duncan, working this out, blackmails her into passing on inside information from her clients to him.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The episode builds to a scene when Duncan, having sniffed out JoAnne’s scheme, blackmails her into an even larger scheme to pump rival executives for business scoops.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Dan Levy knows exactly what keeps him up at night, as the possibility of being blackmailed into committing crimes has haunted him for years.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Something Duncan says in a session with JoAnne leads her to unload some stock, like Martha Stewart in 2004, and Duncan, working this out, blackmails her into passing on inside information from her clients to him.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The episode builds to a scene when Duncan, having sniffed out JoAnne’s scheme, blackmails her into an even larger scheme to pump rival executives for business scoops.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Dan Levy knows exactly what keeps him up at night, as the possibility of being blackmailed into committing crimes has haunted him for years.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackmail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmail
Verb
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The land would then lie fallow until the next rainy season so elephants could graze without threatening the farmers' livelihood.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
16 May 2026
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Around 22% were threatened or protected species, and more than half of those died.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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On the Right, Israel is being squeezed by a smaller faction of the Make America Great Again movement that wants to pare back all American foreign aid.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
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Gas prices are continuing to squeeze drivers at the pump.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The work is freelance and deadline-driven, with no salary, benefits, or job security.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Neto drove a 2-0 sinker 413 feet to center field, stunning Ginn and the A’s while ending a six-game losing streak for the Angels.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The report describes Indigenous patrols in Venezuela allegedly working alongside armed groups controlling mining areas and extorting workers along river routes.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
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Marcus Lamb also alleged that three people tried to extort money from him to stay quiet.—
John Seewer,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The singer was spotted on more than one occasion in New York with fiancé Travis Kelce and the couple was dressed to impress during the outings, with Swift strapping her feet into one of Aquazzura’s shiniest designs.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
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Though many decades older than Liu, Peele could not help but be impressed by Liu’s ability to be herself.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Preeminent leaders don’t coerce.—
Gerald J. Leonard,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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The lawsuit also claims officers choked Day and slammed him against a wall, eventually coercing him into confessing to killing Irving and Garcia.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The economic loss could rise to as much as 100 trillion won if chip production disruptions force Samsung to scrap semiconductor wafers already in production.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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The fire destroyed two structures — a cabin and an equipment shed — and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees, who were rescued by a Santa Barbara County Fire Department helicopter.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackmail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmail. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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