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
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As founder and majority owner of Citadel LLC, Griffin oversees tens of billions in assets, and his 80 percent stake in Citadel Securities—a dominant player in U.S. equity trading—has helped fuel a personal fortune estimated at $48 billion.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
18 July 2025
-
Last December, the US imposed sanctions on Georgia’s shadow ruler, Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia in the 1990s.—
Jill Dougherty,
CNN Money,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
Lastly, Hulu + Live TV bundles Discovery Channel into all its live TV plans.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
20 July 2025
-
Amazon disclosed in its terms that the bundle of Prime benefits is subject to change, the court said.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Top with wine and garnish with a mint leaf or sprig.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
-
Add mint leaves and gently press to release their flavor.—
Claudia Alarcón,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
The fluffy 2-inch pile height is soft and plush but can be easily spot cleaned with a damp cloth.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
-
Boogie, a petty thief surrounded by piles of loot, pointed us toward a set of stairwells back in Red’s building.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Sky hit an insane Sunset Flip bomb to the outside on Ripley.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Manager Aaron Boone, however, figured that hitting bombs against his former team must have felt nice for Bellinger.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“King's ransom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/king%27s%20ransom. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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