blackmail
black·mail / ˈblakˌmāl/ • n. the action, treated as a criminal offense, of demanding money from a person in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person: they were acquitted of charges of blackmail. ∎ money demanded in this way: we do not pay blackmail. ∎ the use of threats or the manipulation of someone's feelings to force them to do something.• v. [tr.] demand money from (a person) in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person: trying to blackmail him for $400,000. ∎ force (someone) to do something by using threats or manipulating their feelings: he had blackmailed her into sailing with him.DERIVATIVES: black·mail·er n.
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blackmail
