Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
sextortion
noun
/sɛkˈstɔːrʃən/
Definition
Sextortion is a form of blackmail that involves threatening someone with the release of sexual or compromising material unless the victim pays money or provides further material.
Examples
- The victim of sextortion was coerced into sending more explicit images after a hacker threatened to leak her private photos.
- Police are warning about the rise of sextortion scams targeting young internet users.
- He faced severe emotional distress after becoming a victim of sextortion.
Meaning
It combines ‘sex’ and ‘extortion,’ indicating the coercive nature of the threat related to sexual content.
Synonyms
- blackmail
- coercion
- extortion
- harassment
