#Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and may be revealed to family members or associates rather than to the general public. Wikipedia the action, treated as a criminal offence, of demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.  "they were acquitted of charges of blackmail" verb  demand money or another benefit from (someone) in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.  "they use this fact to blackmail him, trying to force him to vote for their candidate"