extortionate

extortionate — adjective

1. much more expensive than is reasonable or fair, often in a way that seems dishon

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

much more expensive than is reasonable or fair, often in a way that seems dishonest

Example

The only hotel in town charged extortionate rates after all the others closed down.

collocation: extortionate rates / extortionate prices

Lakshmi refused to pay the extortionate fee the mechanic charged for a simple repair.

collocation: extortionate fee

Common collocations
  • extortionate prices
  • extortionate fees
  • extortionate rent
  • extortionate charges
  • extortionate rates
  • extortionate costs
  • extortionate interest
Synonyms
  • exorbitant

    Very close in meaning and formality; 'exorbitant' is slightly more neutral, while 'extortionate' more strongly suggests unfairness or dishonesty.

  • outrageous

    Adds a note of moral shock; suggests the price is not just high but shockingly unfair. Less specific to pricing than 'extortionate'.

  • inflated

    Suggests the price has been pushed up artificially or unreasonably, often compared to a normal baseline.

  • prohibitive

    Focuses on the result — the cost is so high that it prevents people from buying or doing something.

Antonyms
  • reasonable

    A fair and sensible price that most people would accept.

  • affordable

    Within most people's financial reach; opposite of 'prohibitive' or 'extortionate'.

Grammar Patterns

extortionate + noun (price, fee, rent, charge)

be + extortionate

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe prices, fees, rents, or charges that the speaker considers unfair. Stronger and more emotive than 'expensive' or 'costly'; the word carries a moral judgment that the cost is not just high but unreasonable.

Common Mistakes

This hotel is extortionate.
This hotel charges extortionate rates for basic rooms.
'extortionate' usually modifies a specific price, fee, or charge, not a person or place directly.

Word family

  • extort
    verbC1
  • extortion
    nounC1
  • extortionist
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Exorbitant is the closest synonym to extortionate, sharing the meaning 'far beyond what is reasonable' and a similar level of formality. Outrageous adds a stronger note of moral shock — something is not just expensive but shockingly unfair. Inflated suggests the price has been pushed up artificially above a normal level, while prohibitive focuses on consequence: the cost is so high that it prevents people from buying or using something. For example, you might call a hotel rate extortionate or exorbitant, call grocery prices during a storm outrageous, describe an overvalued stock as inflated, and call college tuition in some countries prohibitive.

exorbitantoutrageous ↗inflatedprohibitive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • extortionate prices
  • extortionate fees
  • extortionate rent
  • extortionate charges
  • extortionate rates
  • extortionate cost
  • extortionate interest

Adverbs

  • truly extortionate
  • positively extortionate
  • absolutely extortionate

Phrases

  • at an extortionate price
  • at extortionate rates

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'extortion-' (a twisting out, extortion, from 'extorquere' meaning to twist out or obtain by force) plus the adjective suffix '-ate', via Old French into English. The word originally described something obtained by force or threat; by the late 1700s it had broadened to mean 'excessively high in price,' carrying a sense that the cost feels as unfair as theft.