as in saving
to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price
the prince emptied the treasury to ransom his son from the kidnappers
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Recent Examples of ransoming
Abu Sayyaf was particularly notorious for kidnapping and ransoming foreigners.
—
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransoming
Verb
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Sara Doody Mid-Century Lift-Top Coffee Table Apartment dwellers will love this space-saving coffee table with a convenient lift-top that doubles as a kitchen table and work desk.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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That same year, he was awarded the commissioner’s unit citation for saving the lives of multiple residents during a six-alarm fire, the mayor’s office said.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stars like Patrick Wilson, Bronwyn Newport, and Mayim Bialik have shared social media posts thanking the ASPCA for its decades of work rescuing animals, finding them homes, and fighting for their legal rights.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Given Southampton had only dropped points from a winning position twice in the previous 21 league games — Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic both rescuing a 1-1 draw apiece — a comeback seemed unlikely.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ransoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransoming. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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