ransoms
Prices for freedom
Ransoms is the plural of ransom—money or concessions demanded for releasing a captive or stolen property.
Kidnappers demand ransoms; hackers hold data for ransom.
The verb means to pay such a price or to hold someone for payment: The pirates ransomed the crew for millions.
A king's ransom is an exorbitant sum.
Captive held as security
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- kidnapperOne who seizes people
- captiveOne held by force
- victimOne harmed by another
seize · abduct · snatch · detain · missing · hideout · disappear · demand
Absence of constraint
- liberationRelease from constraint
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- handoverTransfer of control
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
rescue · recovery · reunification · proof of life · deadline · conditions · terms · surrender
Currency for transactions
- cashReady spending funds
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
- transactionExchange of goods/money
wire transfer · cryptocurrency · untraceable · briefcase · duffel bag · bills · currency · funds
Coercion through damaging threats
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- demandForceful request or requirement
leverage · exploitation · criminal · illegal · underworld · syndicate · organized crime · shakedown
Confined criminal detainee
- confinementState of being restricted
- detentionTemporary official holding
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- restraintControl over impulses
bound · cell · isolation · custody · hostage-taking · imprisonment · held captive · shackles
hostage
Captive held as security
victim · seize · abduct · snatch · detain · missing · hideout · disappear · demand · ultimatum
freedom
Absence of constraint
- liberationRelease from constraint
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- handoverTransfer of control
deliverance · rescue · recovery · reunification · proof of life · deadline · conditions · terms · surrender · retrieval
money
Currency for transactions
- cashReady spending funds
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
transaction · wire transfer · cryptocurrency · untraceable · briefcase · duffel bag · bills · currency · funds · settlement
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
demand · leverage · exploitation · criminal · illegal · underworld · syndicate · organized crime · shakedown · hush money
prisoner
Confined criminal detainee
- confinementState of being restricted
- detentionTemporary official holding
- chainsLinked metal restraints
restraint · bound · cell · isolation · custody · hostage-taking · imprisonment · held captive · shackles · blindfold
- CrusadesFirst Crusade, crusade, crusader, Third Crusade, Knights Templar
- feudal leviescorvee, feudal levy, quit-rent, wardship, manorial dues
- medieval warfareknights, siege warfare, castle, castle siege, siege
- slaverychattel slavery, enslaved, slave, enslavement, slave traders
- ancient diplomacyenvoys, ambassadors, emissaries, peace treaties, alliances
- wild garlicramps, wild leek, ramp, wild onion
ransomscharity
Voluntary aid for others
donations · gifts · benevolence · philanthropy · alms
ransomsrescues
Frees from danger
liberations · emancipations · pardons · amnesties · releases
ransomsfair wages
Reasonable compensation for labor
earned income · restitution · compensation · reparations · rewards
- 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