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Antonyms for blackmail

Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : blak-meyl
Phonetic Transcription : ˈblækˌmeɪl

Definition of blackmail

Origin :
  • 1550s, from black (adj.) + Middle English male "rent, tribute," from Old English mal "lawsuit, terms, bargaining, agreement," from Old Norse mal "speech, agreement;" related to Old English mæðel "meeting, council," mæl "speech," Gothic maþl "meeting place," from Proto-Germanic *mathla-, from PIE *mod- "to meet, assemble" (see meet (v.)). From the practice of freebooting clan chieftains who ran protection rackets against Scottish farmers. Black from the evil of the practice. Expanded c.1826 to any type of extortion money. Cf. silver mail "rent paid in money" (1590s); buttock-mail (Scottish, 1530s) "fine imposed for fornication."
  • noun intimidation for money; money to quiet informer
  • verb intimidating for money
Example sentences :
  • She had been convicted of blackmail, and she made no pretense even of innocence.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • If it's blackmail, Mr. Irwin, why don't you consult the police?
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • Ida has gone to warn her now in case she tries to blackmail you.
  • Extract from : « People of Position » by Stanley Portal Hyatt
  • But there's no blackmail when you only take what belongs to you.
  • Extract from : « The Vagrant Duke » by George Gibbs
  • But it shouldn't be blackmail, if silence is the price of getting what really belongs to you.
  • Extract from : « The Vagrant Duke » by George Gibbs
  • There is no blackmail about this, even if you choose to call it so.
  • Extract from : « The Crevice » by William John Burns and Isabel Ostrander
  • Has Guy Morrow returned yet from that blackmail case in Denver?
  • Extract from : « The Crevice » by William John Burns and Isabel Ostrander
  • Yet you come here to blackmail me—yes, that's the word I used, and the one I mean.
  • Extract from : « Garrison's Finish » by W. B. M. Ferguson
  • Such instances of blackmail are much more frequent than are supposed.
  • Extract from : « The White Lie » by William Le Queux
  • "Ethics of blackmail," commented Mr. Travers with unexpected sarcasm.
  • Extract from : « The Rescue » by Joseph Conrad

Synonyms for blackmail

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019