held for ransom

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Seventeen missionaries from the United States and Canada were taken hostage and held for ransom in 2021 while on a trip to Haiti organized by the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries.

From Reuters • Mar. 25, 2023

I assured him that the chances of his grandchildren being held for ransom because of a cute photo on a dating app were low, although I had no statistics to back up that claim.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2021

Of all the seafarers held for ransom globally last year, some 90% were taken here.

From BBC • May 9, 2020

According to lore, production on Starcrash was marred by widespread food poisoning, then the negative was then held for ransom by striking workers.

From The Guardian • Apr. 13, 2020

Fearing he had been waylaid or was held for ransom I offered the reward through my Chicago bankers.

From The House of the Misty Star A Romance of Youth and Hope and Love in Old Japan by Little, Frances, [pseud.]