as in fortune
a very large amount of money
that enormous diamond ring must have cost a king's ransom
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Recent Examples of king's ransom
While the Cowboys might be entertaining trade offers, Jones is likely to seek a king's ransom to part with Parsons.
—
Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
The king's ransom paid Apple for Google search priority has been called into question due to the government's antitrust case against Alphabet .
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Williams is such a talented prospect that experts are saying the Bears should not trade the first overall pick for a king's ransom.
—Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024
What king's ransom would the price of entry be if the trumpeters all make a ‘living wage’ for a temporary job best filled by college students?
—Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 17 Feb. 2023
But a king's ransom awaits you with A Royal Corgi Christmas (Hallmark, Nov. 25), where a prince who's about to assume the throne gifts his mother a rambunctious corgi named Mistletoe, who's in desperate need of a trainer.
—Dan Snierson, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2022
Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
The king's ransom paid Apple for Google search priority has been called into question due to the government's antitrust case against Alphabet .
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Williams is such a talented prospect that experts are saying the Bears should not trade the first overall pick for a king's ransom.
—Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024
What king's ransom would the price of entry be if the trumpeters all make a ‘living wage’ for a temporary job best filled by college students?
—Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 17 Feb. 2023
But a king's ransom awaits you with A Royal Corgi Christmas (Hallmark, Nov. 25), where a prince who's about to assume the throne gifts his mother a rambunctious corgi named Mistletoe, who's in desperate need of a trainer.
—Dan Snierson, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for king's ransom
Noun
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With millions in upkeep and no income generated, the property was costing him a fortune.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
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Considering his vast fortune and his numerous endeavors outside of the company that made his famous, this is clearly not about Bezos needing the money or being unable to pay his attorneys, but sending a message.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Save 30% with this earnings-boosting bundle of our top courses.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Cue said the timing of the rights deal and a major new bundle with Peacock was accidental.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Girl Scouts also have their own ice cream Chipwich created with thin mints and more.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Why did fintech Paxos accidentally mint, then destroy, PayPal’s PYUSD?—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Afterward, Tharp joined Copeland on stage, a bouquet of flowers in hand — the first of many, many colleagues and collaborators emerging from the wings to congratulate Copeland, as golden confetti rained down and the pile of bouquets on the stage swelled.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
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Or a pile of stones where once there had been a convent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Two months later, on February 26, 1993, al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb beneath the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Around ninety percent of buildings damaged or destroyed, there are no funds for reconstruction and unexploded bombs are buried beneath debris.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“King's ransom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/king%27s%20ransom. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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