noun
- the practice of lending money at illegally high interest rates, often with threats or violence to enforce repayment
Usage: typically used as an uncountable noun; associated with organized crime and illegal lending
Examples
- The crime boss was arrested for loansharking and extortion.
- Loansharking preys on desperate people who cannot borrow from legitimate banks.
- Federal agents investigated the loansharking operation in the neighborhood.
- Victims of loansharking often face threats and violence if they cannot repay their debts.
- The new law increased penalties for loansharking and related financial crimes.