blackmail

Leverage through secrets

Blackmail is the crime of demanding money or other benefits in exchange for not revealing damaging information about someone: He paid thousands in blackmail to keep the affair secret.

The verb means to commit this act or, more loosely, to pressure someone through threats: She blackmailed him into signing the contract.

Emotional blackmail manipulates through guilt rather than explicit threats.

coercion

threat

Indication of potential harm

pressureForce upon contact
forceStrength or compulsion
duressCoercion through threats

leverage · compel · demand · intimidate · strong-arm · coerce · extort · manipulate · exploit · control

crime

extortion

Obtaining through threats

briberyCorrupt payment for influence
felonySerious criminal offense
ransomPayment for captive's release

conspiracy · fraud · racketeering · shakedown · cybercrime · sextortion · criminal · prosecution · conviction · illegal

secrecy

secrets

Concealed information

concealmentAct of hiding something
incriminatingProving guilt or wrongdoing
compromisingExposing to harm or scandal

scandal · exposure · revelation · dirty laundry · skeleton · damaging · evidence · photographs · documents · recordings

reputation

shame

Painful awareness of failure

disgraceLoss of honor
humiliationLoss of dignity
ruinComplete destruction or collapse

exposure · scandal · embarrassment · public image · career · destruction · threats · social standing · credibility · honor

emotional

manipulation

Underhanded control of others

guiltMoral self-reproach
fearEmotional response to threat
psychologicalOf the mind

toxic · controlling · abusive · relationship · coercive control · gaslighting · threats · vulnerability · exploitation · power imbalance

blackmail

threat

extortion

secrets

shame

manipulation

blackmail

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

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