Ransom
What to call someone
Ransom is money or goods demanded or paid for the release of a captive: The kidnappers demanded a ransom of two million dollars.
To ransom someone is to pay for their release, or to hold them for payment: The pirates ransomed the crew.
A king's ransom is an enormous sum.
The word extends to any high price paid to recover something: He paid a ransom to get his data back from the hackers.
Unlawful seizure of person
- demandForceful request or requirement
- hostageCaptive held as security
- moneyCurrency for transactions
- extortionObtaining through threats
negotiation · exchange · release · captive · abduction · cash · deadline · wire transfer
Deliverance from harm
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- liberationRelease from constraint
- rescueSave from harm
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
sacrifice · freedom · release · savior · redeemer · spiritual · theological · soul
One who seizes people
- abductorOne who takes captives
- gangOrganized criminal group
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
smuggler · pirate · terrorist · organized crime · underworld · perpetrator · accomplice · mastermind
Male crowned ruler
- nobleTitled or virtuous
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- knightHonored mounted soldier
crusade · dungeon · castle · conquest · warfare · treaty · tribute · vassal
Hostage-taking code
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- encryptionConverting data into code
- cryptocurrencyEncrypted decentralized money
hacker · decryption key · data breach · phishing · dark web · cybercriminal · system restore · backup
kidnapping
Unlawful seizure of person
extortion · negotiation · exchange · release · captive · abduction · cash · deadline · wire transfer · drop-off
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- liberationRelease from constraint
- rescueSave from harm
atonement · sacrifice · freedom · release · savior · redeemer · spiritual · theological · soul · grace
kidnapper
One who seizes people
- abductorOne who takes captives
- gangOrganized criminal group
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
cartel · smuggler · pirate · terrorist · organized crime · underworld · perpetrator · accomplice · mastermind · demand note
king
Male crowned ruler
knight · crusade · dungeon · castle · conquest · warfare · treaty · tribute · vassal · lord
ransomware
Hostage-taking code
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- encryptionConverting data into code
cryptocurrency · hacker · decryption key · data breach · phishing · dark web · cybercriminal · system restore · backup · payload
- Sci-Fi CharactersLuke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda, Princess Leia, Chewbacca
- C.S. LewisAslan, Narnia, Narnian, Edmund, Lucy
- Scottish BordersMelrose, Kelso, Lauder, woolen mills, textile mills
- Trojan WarTroy, Achilles, Hector, Helen, Odysseus
- Coal Countryanthracite, coal mines, coal miner, coal mine, coal dust
- Marian ShrinesLourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Akita, Montserrat
Ransomrescue
Save from harm
liberation · emancipation · sacrifice · pardon · amnesty
- ransom demandsCaptor's required payment conditions
- ransom noteAbductor's payment demand
- hold to ransomExtort via threat
- king's ransomEnormous sum of money
- held for ransomDetained pending payment
- hold for ransomDetain demanding payment