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   blackmail

   /ˈblakmeɪl/

   noun

   • 1. the action, treated as a criminal offence, of demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them: "they were acquitted of charges of blackmail"
   • ▪ money demanded by a person or group engaged in blackmail: "we do not pay blackmail"
   • ▪ the use of threats or the manipulation of someone's feelings to force them to do something: "some people use emotional blackmail"

   verb

   • 1. demand money or another benefit from (someone) in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them: "they use this fact to blackmail him, trying to force him to vote for their candidate" Similar extort money fromthreatenhold to ransommilkbleedinformal:demand hush money from
   • ▪ force (someone) to do something by using threats or manipulating their feelings: "he had blackmailed her into sailing with him" Similar coercepressurizepressurebring pressure to bear onbulldozeforcerailroadinformal:lean onput the screws ontwist someone's arm

   Word Origin mid 16th century (denoting protection money levied by Scottish chiefs): from black + obsolete mail ‘tribute, rent’, from Old Norse mál ‘speech, agreement’.

   Scrabble Points: 19

   • B

     3

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

   • M

     3

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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