1. past tense of blackmail; to demand money or favors from someone by threatening to reveal embarrassing or harmful information about them

Examples

• The politician was blackmailed by someone who had photos of his secret meeting.
• She blackmailed her brother into doing her chores by threatening to tell their parents about the broken vase.
• The company executive was blackmailed for thousands of dollars.
• He felt trapped after being blackmailed by his former business partner.
• The witness was blackmailed to change his testimony.
• She realized she was being blackmailed when the anonymous caller demanded money for silence.