ransom 1 of 2

verb

Definition of ransomnext
as in to save
to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price the prince emptied the treasury to ransom his son from the kidnappers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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ransom

2 of 2

noun

as in recovery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ransom contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ransom are deliver, reclaim, redeem, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When is deliver a more appropriate choice than ransom?

The words deliver and ransom are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

In what contexts can reclaim take the place of ransom?

The meanings of reclaim and ransom largely overlap; however, reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

When is it sensible to use redeem instead of ransom?

The synonyms redeem and ransom are sometimes interchangeable, but redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

When might rescue be a better fit than ransom?

In some situations, the words rescue and ransom are roughly equivalent. However, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

Where would save be a reasonable alternative to ransom?

The words save and ransom can be used in similar contexts, but save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ransom
Verb
They were taken by speedboats to the jungles of the southern Philippine province of Sulu, where they were held in harsh conditions before being mostly ransomed off using millions of dollars reportedly provided by then-Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi. —Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024 Nestor explains that the employee sold him out to some Haitians, who stole his product and now want to ransom it back to him. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 16 June 2024
Noun
Joly was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and 16 counts of hostage taking of a U.S. national for ransom. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 May 2025 In one case, a gang allegedly tried to kidnap the daughter and young grandson of a cryptocurrency company executive in Paris, while earlier this month the father of a crypto millionaire was rescued by police in Paris after he was kidnapped and held for ransom. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ransom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransom
  1. save
  2. recovery
  3. rescue
  4. redemption
  5. redeem
  6. salvation
  7. deliverance
Verb
  • Molly saves the day, grabbing a teapot from a closet, where she’s been saving a secret stash of cash.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Beachgoers in Florida sprung into action to try to save a 5-year-old who was drowning.
    — Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Definition of save
Noun
  • Those who lost property in recent disasters, including Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires, are experiencing this firsthand but there are unique solutions for disaster recovery.
    — Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Cielo, a ceramicist, lost her home in the Eaton fire and plans to focus on post-fire recovery.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Definition of recovery
Verb
  • Stern, a multiple-tour combat veteran of the U.S. Army and Navy who now rescues people for a living, told Fox News Digital.
    — Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2025
  • But Brad Marchand rescued the Panthers with the Marchand Miracle, a goal in the second overtime for a 5-4 road win and 1-1 series heading back to South Florida for Game 3 Monday night.
    — Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Definition of rescue
Noun
  • Muncy, in his second game back with the A’s after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, was looking for redemption — both from his first-inning error and three strikeout performance in Wednesday’s 6-1 loss.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • Jess Walter’s sublime ‘So Far Gone’ finds redemption in exasperated Pacific Northwest exile.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Definition of redemption
Verb
  • Once their reading log is filled, participants can turn the log in to redeem prizes.
    — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • Kane redeems himself, ties the game, 1-1 From the Edmonton blueline, defenseman Evan Bouchard quickly headmanned the puck to Viktor Arvidsson, who turned it to a flying Evander Kane.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Definition of redeem
Noun
  • Her mother found her daughter’s cowardice in the face of strangers a secret disgrace, but Constance also had a father who was happy with her and with their time together, and that likely had been her salvation.
    — Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum indicated in his own post that the project’s salvation may have come in response to pro-pipeline remarks from Hochul.
    — Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 20 May 2025
Definition of salvation
Noun
  • Wine • Four glasses of wine are poured to represent the four stages of the Exodus: freedom, deliverance, redemption and release.
    — Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
  • His corpse is down the street from a brothel, and below a billboard advertisement for a priest who promises miracles and deliverance.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of deliverance

Phrases Containing ransom

Browse Nearby Words

ransacks
ransom
ransomed
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Cite this Entry

“Ransom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransom. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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