“Blackmail” 是一个在高级英语中常见且具有强烈负面含义的词汇，常用于法律、新闻、文学等领域。以下是其权威释义、典型用法及中文翻译。
Blackmail（动词 / 名词）
指通过威胁公开某人的秘密、丑闻或不利信息，以强迫其做某事（通常是支付金钱）的行为。
As a verb: To extort money from someone by threatening to reveal compromising or damaging information about them.
As a noun: The action of demanding money or other benefits from someone in exchange for not revealing damaging information.
• He was accused of blackmailing his former employer.
→ 他被指控敲诈前雇主。
• She paid him to keep quiet, but it was clearly a case of blackmail.
→ 她付钱让他保持沉默，但这显然是一起敲诈勒索案。
• The journalist refused to be silenced by threats of blackmail.
→ 这名记者拒绝因敲诈威胁而保持沉默。
“Blackmail” 属于正式且带有法律色彩的词汇，日常口语中较少使用。在写作或正式场合中，应避免与 “bribe”（贿赂）、“threaten”（威胁）等词混淆。