“Exhortation” can be easily confused with “extortion.” Both words concern an attempt to get something from someone, but an exhortation is more of an emotional or persuasive appeal, while extortion involves force or threats. During election season, for example, many of us face exhortations from various candidates to vote for them or to donate to their campaigns — but if we found ourselves subject to extortion from a candidate, that would surely be grounds for booting them from the race.