extort eradication pillage proliferation sleek

extort

ex·tort /ɪkˈstɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ verb [transitive]

to illegally force someone to give you something, especially money, by threatening them → blackmail

• extort something from somebody

  • Rebels extorted money from local villagers.

• extortion /ɪkˈstɔːʃən $ -ɔːr-/ noun [uncountable]:

  • He faces charges of kidnapping and extortion.

• extortionist noun [countable]

eradication

e·rad·i·cate /ɪˈrædəkeɪt, ɪˈrædɪkeɪt/ verb [transitive]

to completely get rid of something such as a disease or a social problem

• eradicate something from something

  • We can eradicate this disease from the world.
  • an attempt to eradicate inflation
  • This problem has now been completely eradicated.

• eradication /ɪˌrædəˈkeɪʃən, ɪˌrædɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]

pillage

pil·lage /ˈpɪlɪdʒ/ verb [intransitive and transitive]

if soldiers pillage a place in a war, they steal a lot of things and do a lot of damage SYN plunder

• pillage noun [uncountable]
• pillager noun [countable]

proliferation

pro·lif·e·ra·tion /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən/ noun

1. [singular, uncountable] a sudden increase in the amount or number of something

   • proliferation of
     • the proliferation of global media networks

2. [uncountable] the very fast growth of new parts of a living thing, such as cells

sleek

sleek1 /sliːk/ adjective

1. a vehicle or other object that is sleek has a smooth attractive shape:
   • the sleek lines of the new Mercedes
2. sleek hair or fur is straight, shiny, and healthy-looking
3. someone who is sleek looks rich and is well dressed

• sleekly adverb
• sleekness noun [uncountable]