Word: extortion

Associations

Extortion is the act of obtaining something, usually money, through threats or coercion. It often involves a misuse of power.

• Example 1: "The gang was arrested for extortion after demanding money from local businesses." This shows how extortion can happen in a community setting.
• Example 2: "He faced charges of extortion after threatening to leak private information." Here, extortion is linked to intimidation.
• Example 3: "The celebrity hired lawyers to deal with extortion attempts by a former associate." This demonstrates that extortion can involve personal relationships and professional consequences.

The synonym "blackmail" is often used, but the main difference is that blackmail usually refers specifically to obtaining money or favors by threatening to reveal embarrassing information, while extortion can include threats of harm.

Substitution

Some phrases that could replace "extortion" depending on context include:

• "shakedown" (usually implies a more aggressive approach)
• "coercion" (broader term that includes extorting but can apply to different forms of threats)
• "intimidation" (this is more about creating fear rather than obtaining something specific)

Deconstruction

The word "extortion" comes from the Latin "extortio," where:

• "ex-" means "out of" or "from."
• "torere" means "to twist or turn." The parts combined suggest the concept of "twisting" someone to get something from them, often against their will. This helps understand why it means what it does.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where someone might feel pressured to give something due to extortion?
• Have you ever heard news stories involving extortion? How were the people involved affected?
• In what kinds of relationships or situations do you think extortion could happen more often?