blackmail
/ˈblækˌmeɪl/
verbnoun
Common
1.v.exert pressure on someone through threats
2.v.obtain through threats
3.n.extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information
Loading page
blackmail and pressure share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. blackmail means “exert pressure on someone through threats”. pressure means “the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)”. pressure is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈblækˌmeɪl/
1.v.exert pressure on someone through threats
2.v.obtain through threats
3.n.extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information
/ˈpɹɛʃɚ/
| blackmail | pressure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈblækˌmeɪl/ | /ˈpɹɛʃɚ/ |
| Said | BLAK-mayl | PRESH-ur |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 9 | 8 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 3 | 9 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | blackjack, pressure | pressure level, force per unit area |
Full entry for blackmail · Full entry for pressure · More comparisons
1.n.the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
“the compressed gas exerts an increased pressure”
2.n.a force that compels
“the public brought pressure to bear on the government”
3.n.the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
“he gave the button a press”