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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

California accused Paramount of "blackmail" on Tuesday over a reported threat to pull the company out of the state because of lawsuits aimed at stopping its mega-merger with Warner Bros.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

A fast, he insisted, was not blackmail but an act of suffering intended to awaken rather than coerce.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 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

Worse than that, however, he had allowed Brother Leon to blackmail him.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Here’s the key: Ava confronts Deborah with her lies and betrayal, then blackmails Deborah for the head writer position.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024

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

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

But the king was being blackmailed by an old girlfriend, an opera singer from New Jersey named Irene Adler.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

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

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

Bondi is under fire after she said last week there was no evidence Epstein kept a "client list" or was blackmailing powerful figures.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2025

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

She accused him of blackmailing and bullying school district leaders who supported the proposal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2023

“I don’t know what you’re getting at—nobody’s blackmailing me.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck




Vocabulary lists containing blackmail


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