blackmailblackmail2 ●○○ verb [transitive] 
Verb Table Examples
He was jailed for four years for blackmailing gay businessmen.blackmail somebody into (doing) something I refuse to be blackmailed into making a quick decision.► see thesaurus at force—blackmailer noun [countable]
Verb TableVERB TABLE
blackmail
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | blackmail |
| he, she, it | blackmails | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | blackmailed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have blackmailed |
| he, she, it | has blackmailed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had blackmailed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will blackmail |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have blackmailed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am blackmailing |
| he, she, it | is blackmailing | |
| you, we, they | are blackmailing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was blackmailing |
| you, we, they | were blackmailing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been blackmailing |
| he, she, it | has been blackmailing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been blackmailing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be blackmailing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been blackmailing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Ford had been blackmailing a gay naval officer.
- Gina tried to blackmail him, by threatening to tell his wife about their affair.
- She had tried to use the photographs to blackmail him into marrying her.
- The FBI blackmailed her into informing on the other members of the gang.
- The priest was being blackmailed by a woman who said he was the father of her child.
- We will not be blackmailed into silence.
- You cannot blackmail a man who has nothing to hide.
- Capshaw was going to try to blackmail him.
- I am being blackmailed, in a way that the police can not help with.
- It even crossed my mind that she might blackmail some one.
- Laura Channing was about to be blackmailed, and my money said Vecchi was the would-be collector on that deal, too.
- Nowhere is it easier to blackmail than in the criminal underworld and the grey areas of conduct that surround it.
- To blackmail a man because he likes dressing in women's clothes.
- Was there an intention to try to blackmail her in some way as well as Derek?
THESAURUS► force
to use blackmail against someone: to make someone do something they do not want to do. Used when people or situations make you do something: · They were beaten and forced to confess to crimes they had not committed.· The drought forced millions of farmers to sell their cattle.
► make to force someone to do something by using pressure, threats, or violence. Make somebody do something is more common than force somebody to do something in everyday English: · Her parents disapproved of Alex and they made her stop seeing him.· Two men with guns made the staff hand over the money.
► pressure (also pressurize British English) to try to force someone to do something by making them feel that they should do it: · Some employers pressure their staff into working very long hours.· She felt they were trying to pressurize her into getting married.
► blackmail to force someone to give you money or do what you want by threatening to tell embarrassing secrets about them: · She tried to blackmail him with photographs of them together at the hotel.
► compel formal to force someone to do something using official power or authority. Also used when someone has to do something because of their situation: · The town was surrounded and compelled to surrender.· I felt compelled to offer them some kind of explanation.· You are compelled by law to carry an ID card.
► coerce formal to force someone to do something by threatening them: · Local people were coerced into joining the rebel army.
► be obliged to do something formal if someone is obliged to do something, they must do it because it is the law or the rule, or because of the situation they are in: · You are not obliged to say anything which may harm your defence in court.· They were obliged to sell the land.
Longman Language Activatorto force someone do something by using threats or violence► force · If you don't comply I'm afraid we'll have to force you.force somebody to do something · Thieves had tied him up and forced him to lie on the floor.· All the hostages were forced to hand over their passports.force somebody into (doing) something · She claimed she was forced to take part in the robbery by her husband.
► make to force someone to do something by using violence or threats: · I didn't want to take part in the attack but the soldiers made me.make somebody do something: · They made sales staff open the safe.be made to do something: · The couple were made to hand over all their money and jewellery.
► coerce written to force someone to do something that they do not want to do by threatening that something bad might happen to them if they do not do it: · Ray withdrew his confession, saying that he had been coerced by the police.coerce somebody into doing something: · The mine owners coerced the workers into going back to work, by threatening to close down the mines completely.· Officials coerced peasants into voting for the government candidates. coerce somebody to do something: · The company paid the workers the minimum rate of $4.86 an hour, but coerced some to give back half their pay in cash.
► compel formal to make someone do something by using force or official power: compel somebody to do something: · All the young men in the area were compelled to work in the quarries and coal mines.· The attorney general has the right to compel witnesses to appear in court.
► bully informal to force someone to do something by shouting at them, treating them badly, or using threats: · Don't let the salesman bully you -- it's your choice.bully somebody into doing something: · If you try and bully him into giving you the money he's sure to say no -- you should try and persuade him gently.bully somebody into something: · Ben didn't want to study law, but his father bullied him into it by threatening to cut off his allowance.
► blackmail to force someone to give you money or do what you want, by threatening to tell embarrassing secrets about them: · Gina tried to blackmail him, by threatening to tell his wife about their affair.blackmail somebody into doing something: · The FBI blackmailed her into informing on the other members of the gang.
► use force if someone uses force , they hit, shoot, or use other forms of violence against people in order to make them do something or stop them from doing something: · The regime was quite willing to use force and terror against its enemies. · The law permits every citizen to use reasonable force to defend themselves or their property.use force against: · The police have recently had to defend their policy of using force against rioters.
► strongarm tactics/methods violence or the threat of violence, used to force someone to do something: · The police have been accused of using strongarm tactics when breaking up strikes and public demonstrations.use strongarm tactics/methods to do something: · More and more credit companies are using strongarm methods to collect debts.
► under duress if someone does something under duress , they only agree to do it because they have been threatened, not because they want to do it: · The defendants claimed that their confessions were made under duress.· Judge Mershon ruled that the agreement was signed under duress, and was therefore null and void.
to threaten someone in order to get money from them► blackmail to force someone to give you money or do what you want, by threatening to tell people about something that they want to keep secret: · You cannot blackmail a man who has nothing to hide.· The priest was being blackmailed by a woman who said he was the father of her child.blackmail somebody into (doing) something: · She had tried to use the photographs to blackmail him into marrying her.· We will not be blackmailed into silence.
► extort to get money from someone by threatening them: · He sought to extort money by threatening to reveal secrets about his boss's private life.extort something from somebody: · For years the gang extorted money from local storekeepers.
He was jailed for four years for blackmailing gay businessmen.blackmail somebody into (doing) something I refuse to be blackmailed into making a quick decision.► see thesaurus at force—blackmailer noun [countable]