extortionate

adj

1. Of, related to, or typifying extortion (“the practice of obtaining money or other property by the use of force or threats”).

   “Now it is certain the Roman prieſts are not only ſeemingly very religious and really very extortionate, but are extortionate by means of religion, and make their prayers and maſſes the grand pretence for their exactions.”

   “It is said the daily increase in opium is owing to the negligence of officers in enforcing the interdicts? The laws and enactments are the means which extortionate underlings and worthless vagrants employ to benefit themselves; and the more complete the laws are, the greater and more numerous are the bribes paid to the extortionate underlings, and the more subtle are the schemes of such worthless vagrants.”

   “English travellers who have visited Jerash may remember a handsome but extortionate and insolent Arab sheikh at Sûf, who demanded, and always with success, an extortionate sum as blackmail, for which he gave them an escort and protection during their visit to the ruins.”

   “As regards food for police, it is much more satisfactory, in a new district, to have them fed by Government and not given money or trade goods in lieu of rations, as is often done. If they are allowed to buy their own food from the natives they will impose on the raw savage, and frequently abuse their authority by making extortionate demands under threat of punishment.”

   “The moneylenders – sometimes so extortionate that people pledged their slaves and sacred relics – were Uighurs from the west.”

2. Greatly exceeding what is moderate or reasonable; exorbitant.

   “[Y]ou get from farms ſo occupied, houſe lamb, veal, graſs lamb, a little mutton, and leſs beef, whilſt for either article ſeparately, or jointly, you are worked up to pay prices, not leſt than extortionate; […]”

   “[…] I have the satisfaction to think you are in good hands; M. Miret will not be extortionate: the first year's rent you already have in your savings; afterwards Miss Lucy must trust God, and herself.”

   “On the other hand, to say that this defendant, under this charter, has the power to charge whatever it pleases for passenger fares, without regard to their being reasonable or unreasonable, fair compensation or extortionate, is a power that I equally deny.”

   “Down the coast among the sandhills is Blankenberg, a growing rival to Ostend, with which a steam tram connects it. The sands are firm and clean, and the hotels not unpleasantly extortionate.”

   “A number of members of the committee visited the principal restaurants and cafés, and at each in turn pointed out the extortionate nature of the prices shown on the menu, requesting the proprietors to reduce immediately the prices to a reasonable figure.”