What is extortion defined as?

Extortion is defined as the act of using threats to compel a person to act against their will, often to obtain money, property, or services. This definition highlights the coercive nature of extortion, where the threats can involve physical harm, reputational damage, or other forms of intimidation. The key element here is the use of threats, which distinguishes extortion from other forms of crime like robbery or fraud.

In contrast, taking property by force relates more closely to robbery, which involves immediate physical confrontation and violence. A form of bribery involves offering something of value to influence someone’s actions without coercion, while committing fraud typically involves deceit to gain something of value, lacking the direct element of threats used in extortion. Thus, the central thematic factor in extortion is the influence of threats, making the first choice the correct definition.