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

Relevance

ransom

2 of 2

noun

as in recovery

Related 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
The Guthrie family has publicly responded to ransom notes with video messages, offering to pay for their mother's return home, but have not received a response. — Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026 After a nearby hospital is hacked and ransomed, the higher-ups decide to defend its system by shutting it down, which means business must be conducted in the old-fashioned, paper-and-clipboards way. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
The caller claimed an explosive device had been left on the high school campus and would detonate unless a ransom was paid. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The first note claimed Nancy Guthrie was being held hostage and demanded a Bitcoin ransom for her safe return. — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 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
  • As impressive as many space-saving tiny houses are, not everyone is cut out for climbing into small lofts using movable ladders, or sleeping on a sofa bed every night.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Goldman found Koreans in their sixties save more than any other age group, retaining 37% of their income.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of save
Noun
  • Treatments exist and patients caught early with the disease usually make a complete recovery.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Adames will rest and rehab after getting a platelet-rich plasma injection Thursday night, and typical recovery takes 3-4 weeks.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of recovery
Verb
  • Some of those rescued are covered in mud and appear injured after being battered by the flood, one video shows.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • There were at least 15 newborns in the nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad when the fire broke out, hospital officials said, but one baby was rescued, officials with the hospital said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rescue
Noun
  • And given his redemption arc from struggling striker to one of the most potent in the Premier League and a UEFA Conference League winner, the overriding emotion should not even be anger.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Jane understands that calling Bunny out is a social and professional transgression, but her decision to do it anyway is ultimately an invitation for redemption, which Bunny accepts.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of redemption
Verb
  • This is a new-user offer, and licenses must be redeemed within 30 days of purchase.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The coupon refreshes daily in the Wendy's app, allowing customers to redeem it each day during the promotion.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of redeem
Noun
  • Through the struggle, humans find the purpose of life and find salvation.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Wonder Works Studio, facing financial ruin, found salvation with its Roblox hit, *SpongeBob Tower Defense*, amassing over 600 million visits.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of salvation
Noun
  • Emotions ran deep among the multinational assemblage of emergency workers who witnessed one man’s improbable deliverance.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Not Taylor Swift, not Timothée Chalamet, not any of the Wall Street masters of the universe and the Big Law partners and the Hollywood celebrities who thrashed violently in their seats when OG Anunoby came flying in as a deliverance — his fingertips seemingly sent from heaven.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Definition of deliverance

Phrases Containing ransom

Browse Nearby Words

ransacks
ransom
ransomed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ransom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransom. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All