extortionate
Demanding excessive payment
Extortionate describes prices, demands, or charges that are excessively high—so unreasonable they feel like extortion: extortionate rent, extortionate fees.
The word implies not just expense but exploitation, as though someone is taking unfair advantage.
More common in British than American English, where exorbitant often fills the same role.
Unreasonably high, as costs
- outrageousShockingly bad or excessive
- overpricedCosting more than warranted
- astronomicalRelating to outer space
- sky-highExtremely or excessively elevated
prohibitive · unreasonable · excessive · steep · highway robbery · gouging · inflated · unjustifiable
Charging excessive interest
- predatory lendingExploitative loan terms
- payday lendingHigh-interest emergency loans
- loan sharkIllegal high-interest moneylender
- vigorishBookie's commission on bets
compound interest · APR · finance charge · debt trap · subprime · exploitative · gouging · shylock
Excessively grasping or greedy
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- avariciousExcessively desirous of wealth
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- money-grubbingObsessively seeking wealth
exploitative · predatory · acquisitive · voracious · insatiable · profiteering · greedy · plundering
Coercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- ransomPayment for captive's release
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- protection moneyPayment extracted through threats
threats · intimidation · demanding · leveraging · squeeze · pressure · strong-arm · coercive
exorbitant
Unreasonably high, as costs
- outrageousShockingly bad or excessive
- overpricedCosting more than warranted
- astronomicalRelating to outer space
sky-high · prohibitive · unreasonable · excessive · steep · highway robbery · gouging · inflated · unjustifiable · preposterous
usurious
Charging excessive interest
- predatory lendingExploitative loan terms
- payday lendingHigh-interest emergency loans
- loan sharkIllegal high-interest moneylender
vigorish · compound interest · APR · finance charge · debt trap · subprime · exploitative · gouging · shylock
rapacious
Excessively grasping or greedy
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- avariciousExcessively desirous of wealth
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
money-grubbing · exploitative · predatory · acquisitive · voracious · insatiable · profiteering · greedy · plundering · leeching
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- ransomPayment for captive's release
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
protection money · threats · intimidation · demanding · leveraging · squeeze · pressure · strong-arm · coercive · hush money
extortionatereasonable
Showing sound judgment
fair · cheap · affordable · moderate · inexpensive