extortionary
Involving forced payment
Extortionary describes practices, demands, or prices that involve or resemble extortion—the use of threats, coercion, or abuse of power to obtain something, especially money.
The term typically characterizes fees, rates, or terms that are excessively harsh or exploitative: The loan came with extortionary interest rates.
It overlaps with extortionate, which is more common in British English, while extortionary appears more frequently in American usage.
Coercion through damaging threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
shakedown · ransom · protection money · hush money · payoff · embezzlement · fraud · money laundering
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- strong-armCoerce through intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
bullying · forceful · demanding · menacing · aggressive · overbearing · domineering · compelling
Charging excessive interest
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- profiteeringExploiting scarcity for gain
- rapaciousExcessively grasping or greedy
- loan sharkingIllegal lending at excessive interest
price gouging · opportunistic · parasitic · extractive · mercenary · avaricious · greedy · bloodsucking
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
kickback · shakedown · ransom · protection money · hush money · payoff · embezzlement · fraud · money laundering · organized crime
intimidation
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- strong-armCoerce through intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
threatening · bullying · forceful · demanding · menacing · aggressive · overbearing · domineering · compelling · imposing
usurious
Charging excessive interest
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- profiteeringExploiting scarcity for gain
- rapaciousExcessively grasping or greedy
loan sharking · price gouging · opportunistic · parasitic · extractive · mercenary · avaricious · greedy · bloodsucking · protection racket
extortionaryfair
Impartial and unbiased
equitable · just · ethical · legitimate · aboveboard
extortionaryreasonable
Showing sound judgment
fair · affordable · modest · cheap · bargain
extortionaryvoluntary
Done by choice
consensual · freely given · willing · uncoerced · elective