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
Given Keller has 3 1/2 years left before becoming a free agent, the demand from the Pirates is going to be very high -- essentially a king's ransom.
—
Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
But Milwaukee is likely going to ask for a king's ransom, and the Warriors may not be willing to pay the price.
—Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 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
At the Chamounix Equestrian Center, children learn the aristocratic sport — but those in the Work to Ride program don't need a king's ransom.
—Anne-Marie Green, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022
Yet Hilbert paid a king's ransom of over $7.6 billion for the struggling lender, more than seven times its book value.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2022
Hot Reads: Upon Further Review Barcelona has locked up its budding star Pedri with a deal that includes a $1.1 billion release clause, ensuring that any potential suitor would have to pay a king's ransom to pry away the 18-year-old midfielder.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
But Milwaukee is likely going to ask for a king's ransom, and the Warriors may not be willing to pay the price.
—Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 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
At the Chamounix Equestrian Center, children learn the aristocratic sport — but those in the Work to Ride program don't need a king's ransom.
—Anne-Marie Green, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022
Yet Hilbert paid a king's ransom of over $7.6 billion for the struggling lender, more than seven times its book value.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2022
Hot Reads: Upon Further Review Barcelona has locked up its budding star Pedri with a deal that includes a $1.1 billion release clause, ensuring that any potential suitor would have to pay a king's ransom to pry away the 18-year-old midfielder.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for king's ransom
Noun
-
Nemorino has instead inherited a large fortune and becomes the most eligible bachelor in town.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
-
Among them, the Vanderbilts made their fortune in international shipping and in multiple rail lines, including the New York Central and Hudson River railroads.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
On Saturdays, Jackson brings her harvest—lush bundles ranging from arugula and bok choy to her coveted microgreens—to Birdsong Farmers Market.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
9 July 2025
-
Combined with the rapid decline of cable and satellite bundle subscriptions, the drop-off in viewing explains much of what’s going on at the legacy media companies.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Top with wine and garnish with a mint leaf or sprig.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
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Just mix together all the ingredients — from cucumber, bean sprouts and jalapeño to mint, Thai basil, daikon radish and carrot.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Clean up piles of footwear scattered across the floor and stay organized with a shoe storage cabinet.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
2 July 2025
-
The Wall Street Journal wrote about how the robots are getting flipped over, stuck in snow piles and some students have been found to sit on them, or trip over them, when drinking.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Rafaela’s bomb prevented the game from getting uncomfortably close when Jordan Hicks couldn’t pitch a clean bottom of the ninth.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
6 July 2025
-
Iranians certainly do after Trump sent bunker-buster bombs into their most secure nuclear facility.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“King's ransom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/king%27s%20ransom. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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