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
So, realistically, what would the Yankees have to trade for the Pirates to accept their king's ransom?
—
Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
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
Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for king's ransom
Noun
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After the Clippers were eliminated in the Play-In Tournament last month, Frank reiterated the organization’s stance, while looking ahead to the possibility of the lottery turning out a good fortune.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The first season ended with new editor Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) and his mostly novice reporters possibly reviving the paper’s fortunes and winning a couple of awards for their work.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Noun
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My mother’s cousins and neighbors joined us; trays, coffee, and bundles of cloth—used to lay couscous grains out to dry in the sun—were passed from hand to hand.—
Boutheina Ben Salem,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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Broadcast networks had been doing this for years, but basic cable channels were far more restrictive about giving folks outside the pay-TV bundle access to their entire content slates.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Think pink walls, patterned wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and a mint green checkout desk.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
-
In March, the FDA released its first-ever guidance to industry on flavors, stating that menthol, coffee, mint and spice flavors could have a role in appealing to adult smokers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Spirit’s losses grew, and its cash pile shrank.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Aerial footage of the building showed piles of paper products and other debris burned.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Jimmy’s connection with Tariq, who is missing a leg due to a bomb that also scarred his mother’s face, is rooted in his brotherly love for his father Khalil, Jimmy’s translator, who was killed because of his work with the Americans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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During a search of Beran A’s property, authorities found bomb-making equipment, per the BBC.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“King's ransom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/king%27s%20ransom. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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