racketeer 1 of 2

Definition of racketeernext
as in gangster
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats the racketeer threatened to have his thugs vandalize the shop if the shopkeeper didn't pay him a monthly bribe

Synonyms & Similar Words

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racketeer

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of racketeer
Noun
In a police photograph, Lansky stood next to racketeer Charles (Lucky) Luciano. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025 Oh yeah, this relationship with this 38-year-old racketeer is so beautiful. Michael Cuby, Them, 1 Aug. 2024
Verb
Conahan pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges. Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024 Three co-defendants accepted plea deals earlier this week on racketeering conspiracy charges and were sentenced to probation and time served. Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for racketeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racketeer
Noun
  • One of the first films of its kind, this lesbian gangster heist thriller delivers suspense and humor.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 June 2026
  • The 16 reputed gangsters or aspiring gangsters charged in the indictment range in age from 19 to 24.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • However, the politics are complicated as Long Feng (Chin Han) tries to keep the Earth King from knowing about the war and is eventually blackmailed into corruption by the Fire Nation princess, Azula (Elizabeth Yu).
    Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • He was never blackmailed by Epstein.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Alyssa Thomas' thug-like play, punching Caitlin Clark in the throat and kneeing her in the groin, is indefensible.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • Ditto Hugh Jackman’s unerring performance — perhaps his finest dramatic work yet — as a savage, unfeeling thug and unrepentant murderer and thief.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The necessity of it to my defence against a more heinous charge could alone have extorted from me so painful an indecorum.
    Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 June 2026
  • Perhaps our two states should work in coordination to address our relative strengths and weaknesses together instead of allowing billionaire NFL ownership to extort one state over another.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The blackmailer continues to call her, demanding money in exchange for keeping her cam-boy secrets.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • On advice of his crisis lawyer Ira Slitz (Hill, unrecognizable with a bald head and gray beard), Reef sets out to apologize to everyone from his past who may be angry with him in an effort to find the blackmailer.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Vance also appears willing to muscle Israel into accepting whatever outcome the Iran talks deliver.
    Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
  • For now, however, investors are likely breathing a collective sigh of relief, after muscling through an anxious first half that included major geopolitical conflicts, and tremors around the potential for AI disruption.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Insulted, Beth calls her an extortionist and walks out.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
  • As the bomb squad works to disarm it, FBI rushes to catch the extortionists.
    William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Weger later insisted he had been coerced into making the confession.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • The decentralized group, created by 15-year-old Bradley Chance Cadenhead in Stephenville, targets children through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to coerce them into self-harm and sharing explicit content.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Racketeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racketeer. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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