Understanding the Difference Between Exhort and Extort: Definitions, Usage, and Examples

Difference Between “Exhort” and “Extort”

History

The word exhort comes from Latin “exhortari,” which means to encourage or urge strongly. The word extort comes from Latin “extorquere,” which means to twist or take by force.

How to Use Them

Exhort means to strongly encourage someone to do something good. It is a positive word.

Extort means to take something, usually money, by force or threat. It is a negative word.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of “h” in exhort as “help”. It means to help or encourage. Think of “t” in extort as “threat”. It means to take by threat.

Examples

Exhort

• The teacher exhorts the students to study hard.
• The coach exhorts the team to play their best.
• She exhorts her friend to tell the truth.
• They exhort the community to stay safe.
• We should exhort kids to be kind to others.

Extort

• The thief tried to extort money from the store owner.
• He was caught trying to extort a large sum from his boss.
• The gangster extorted money from local businesses.
• The criminal used threats to extort valuables from his victims.
• Police arrested him for attempting to extort a confession.

Summary

Exhort means to encourage someone to do something good. Extort means to take something by force or threat. Remember: “h” in exhort for “help” and “t” in extort for “threat”.