extortionate

adjective

ex·​tor·​tion·​ate ik-ˈstȯr-sh(ə-)nət 

1

: characterized by extortion

2

: excessive, exorbitant

extortionate prices

extortionately adverb

Examples of extortionate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The costs from climate change will be so extortionate and the economic value losses so devastating that, in the final wash of the cost-benefit analysis, the benefits of mitigation outweigh the costs. — Stephanie Walton, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026

Tickets are priced at tiers that smell extortionate, and are won by either facing off with bots or succumbing to the—actually extortionate—resale market. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

The season ends with her phone ringing, with whatever extortionate demand to be made of Paula waiting for a future season. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 July 2026

Instead, the president governs by executive orders, emergency decrees, and extortionate transactions, using his power to reward his friends and punish his enemies. — Gregg Nunziata, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for extortionate

• proportionate
• disproportionate

Kids Definition

extortionate

adjective

ex·​tor·​tion·​ate ik-ˈstȯr-sh(ə-)nət 

1

: marked by extortion

2

: extremely high : exorbitant

extortionate prices

extortionately adverb