ransoming
Paying for release
Ransoming is demanding or paying money for the release of a captive.
Kidnappers ransom hostages; historically, prisoners of war were ransomed back to their families.
The word extends to any exchange where something valued is held until payment: They're ransoming the stolen data back to the company.
To ransom can also mean to free by paying: The family spent everything ransoming their daughter.
Forceful request or requirement
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- termsConditions of an agreement
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
negotiation · compromise · concession · compliance · stipulation · proviso · requirement · hostage
Obtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
hostage-taking · intimidation · duress · coercion · shakedown · exploitation · captivity · seizure
Absence of constraint
- liberationRelease from constraint
- returnGo back again
- handoverTransfer of control
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
release · deliverance · retrieval · recovery · rescue · extraction · homecoming · reunion
Ready spending funds
- wire transferElectronic bank-to-bank payment
- cryptocurrencyEncrypted decentralized money
- unmarked billsCurrency lacking identifying features
- briefcasePortable document container
drop-off · exchange · handover · payment · settlement · payout · sum · price
demand
Forceful request or requirement
conditions · negotiation · compromise · concession · compliance · stipulation · proviso · requirement · hostage · leverage
extortion
Obtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
abduction · hostage-taking · intimidation · duress · coercion · shakedown · exploitation · captivity · seizure · snatch
freedom
Absence of constraint
- liberationRelease from constraint
- returnGo back again
- handoverTransfer of control
exchange · release · deliverance · retrieval · recovery · rescue · extraction · homecoming · reunion · survival
cash
Ready spending funds
- wire transferElectronic bank-to-bank payment
- cryptocurrencyEncrypted decentralized money
- unmarked billsCurrency lacking identifying features
briefcase · drop-off · exchange · handover · payment · settlement · payout · sum · price · fee
- Barbary PiratesBarbary pirates, Barbary Coast, Algiers, Tripoli, Tunis
- Warfare Customswar cry, battle cry, war drums, war drum, war chant
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
ransomingcapturing
Taking into custody
kidnapping · abducting · seizing · imprisoning · detaining
ransomingimprisoning
Confining in custody
incarcerating · enslaving · confining · jailing · detaining
ransomingliberating
Setting free from constraint
emancipating · setting free · pardoning · letting go · rescuing