as in threatening
to use blackmail against (someone)
The old man was being blackmailed by his nephew.
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Recent Examples of blackmailing
Later, we’re treated to an electrifying scene of Dennis blackmailing a woman named Joyce Tercek in an elevator.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Of course, Lili responds by blackmailing her, threatening to out her for accepting the principal position knowing she'd been mistakenly recruited for the job.
—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
At its mid-’90s peak, upwards of 14 million people tuned in each week to see who was sleeping with, blackmailing or attempting to murder whom.
—
Andrea Lavinthal,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Members of the group allegedly conduct coordinated extortions of teens by blackmailing them.
—
Jt Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Aviles and his attorney have denied the blackmailing accusation.
—
Connor Greene,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Whitney had a Jeffrey Epstein-like habit of blackmailing powerful associates with recordings of intimate moments, often with his ex-escort assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Gonzales has refused to address the report and instead claims the late staffer's husband is blackmailing him.
—
Jj Velasquez,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Feb. 2026
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Of course, Lili responds by blackmailing her, threatening to out her for accepting the principal position knowing she'd been mistakenly recruited for the job.
—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
At its mid-’90s peak, upwards of 14 million people tuned in each week to see who was sleeping with, blackmailing or attempting to murder whom.
—
Andrea Lavinthal,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Members of the group allegedly conduct coordinated extortions of teens by blackmailing them.
—
Jt Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Aviles and his attorney have denied the blackmailing accusation.
—
Connor Greene,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Whitney had a Jeffrey Epstein-like habit of blackmailing powerful associates with recordings of intimate moments, often with his ex-escort assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Gonzales has refused to address the report and instead claims the late staffer's husband is blackmailing him.
—
Jj Velasquez,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackmailing
Verb
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Not long afterward, he was elected president on a platform deeply hostile to the West and its liberal ideology, and especially to the United States — threatening a hard fight in the event of war.
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Severe thunderstorms are also forecast to develop later in the day, threatening fireworks displays and other outdoor events from the Plains to the Northeast with damaging winds, lightning and heavy downpours.
Verb
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Of course, attempts to get more revenue out of taxpayers would carry political risks, but voters have been open to squeezing the wealthy.
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Coach Spencer Carbery has done a masterful job of both squeezing what’s left out of the franchise’s best-ever player — Ovechkin led the Caps in both goals (32) and points (64) in 2025-26 — while simultaneously masking the deficiencies that come with age.
Verb
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Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals.
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Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
Verb
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In April of that year, Michael Spilotro and a third brother, Victor, were charged with extorting money from two businesses associated with prostitution and using violence to enforce their demands, UPI reported at the time.
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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.
Verb
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Its greatest win was impressing both my dad, who grew up with He-Man, and me, who grew up with Netflix.
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Radek Vitek, 22, could also depart either permanently or on loan in search of regular playing time after impressing on loan at Championship club Bristol City.
Verb
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Lively accused Baldoni in December 2024 of harassing her on the set of It Ends With Us and subsequently plotting a smear campaign against her.
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John was found guilty of harassing an ex-girlfriend later that same year.
Cite this Entry
“Blackmailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackmailing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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