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Definitions

blackmail

[blak-meyl] / ˈblækˌmeɪl /
NOUN
intimidation for money; money to quiet informer
Synonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Petersen said at the time that the city was giving in to blackmail from the business community.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 1, 2026

A British woman has been jailed for six years in Hong Kong for blackmail and perverting the course of justice after a court found she made a false allegation of rape.

From BBC Jul. 22, 2026

The criminals hoped the documents within would contain sensitive secrets they could use to blackmail Hughes, who sometimes spent months without leaving his home, eating only chocolate bars and milk, letting his fingernails grow long.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 16, 2026

This exemplary service failed to account for her disturbingly poor judgment, risking blackmail and conflict-of-interest allegations, since the Atlanta Police Department appears before her court; nor her lack of candor to the court.

From Slate Jun. 8, 2026

Should that be the case, Booth has a foolproof plan in mind to blackmail Atzerodt into cooperating.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

For Nate, a bid at redemption comes not from his mother but from Jade, who blackmails the A Taste of Athens manager, Derek into firing him.

From New York Times May 24, 2023

Persistent, and desperate, Cassie blackmails her for the spot saying she knows that Carol sells "buddy passes" and that everyone calls her "black market Carol" because of it.

From Salon Apr. 29, 2022

Kiki’s former spymaster, the shadowy Dr. Fox, persuades — well, blackmails — her into working for him again, gathering intelligence on possible threats.

From Seattle Times Jul. 30, 2021

In both, LEPRecon also recruits Mulch to get into the manor, although in the book LEPRecon blackmails Mulch while in the movie the dwarf attempts to negotiate his prison sentence by offering to help.

From Slate Jun. 12, 2020

Booth blackmails Atzerodt, saying belongings John Wilkes Booth took with he left his hotel room on April 14, 1865. he’s in too deep to back out.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

Black, who was one of Epstein’s biggest financial clients, has said he didn’t know about Epstein’s crimes, never abused a woman and wasn’t blackmailed by Epstein.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 3, 2026

"Anyone who tries to sabotage our critical infrastructure and paralyse society is attacking all of us. But we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed or intimidated by criminal activity."

From Barron's Sep. 1, 2026

Worse, the patients were the ones feeling emotionally blackmailed into donating money.

From MarketWatch Jul. 2, 2026

“We have never blackmailed anyone,” the post said.

From Salon Feb. 21, 2026

“You’re telling me that Dusty Muleman blackmailed the government’s lawyers?”

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Some have suggested that Moreno had been silent because Miller was blackmailing him.

From Slate Aug. 3, 2026

These including using the pages to sell fake products or place scam adverts, harvesting personal information, spreading malware, tricking people into sending money, or blackmailing the company in question to unblock the account.

From BBC Apr. 16, 2025

“They’re blackmailing me,” Ms. Navalnaya said in a video posted on her son’s YouTube channel.

From New York Times Feb. 22, 2024

In Sam Mendes’ 1999 film, “American Beauty,” Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, kicks off a corporate blackmailing scheme that ultimately leaves him with a $60,000 pay-out.

From Salon Dec. 9, 2023

“So he’s been blackmailing Queen Orlagh,” Dain says, and the Roach and I look over at him.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black




Vocabulary lists containing blackmail


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