Synonyms of ransom

ransom 1 of 2

verb

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

• save
• rescue
• redeem
• release
• bail
• retrieve
• recover
• get back
• liberate
• regain
• buy
• deliver
• emancipate
• salvage

ransom

2 of 2

noun

as in recovery

Related Words

• recovery
• redemption
• rescue
• salvation
• deliverance
• security
• protection
• defense
• safeguard
• preservation
• safekeeping
• safeguarding
• guardianship
• extrication
• conservation
• guard

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

Recent Examples of ransom

Verb

Jordan shot Marter in the back of the head before her banker husband paid a $25,000 ransom for her return on Jan. 12, 1976. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 June 2025

Criminals believe that retailers are big, rich targets that move slowly to respond to threats and are likely to comply with ransom demands rather than suffer business disruption. —Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Noun

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

Phrases Containing ransom

• king's ransom