rescue 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rescuenext
as in salvation
the saving from danger or evil stranded people hoping for rescue from the rising floodwaters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rescue

2 of 2

verb

ˈre-(ˌ)skyü How to pronounce rescue (audio)
as in to save
to remove from danger or harm an all-out effort to rescue a beached whale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rescue contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rescue are deliver, ransom, reclaim, redeem, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

When is deliver a more appropriate choice than rescue?

In some situations, the words deliver and rescue are roughly equivalent. However, deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When is it sensible to use ransom instead of rescue?

The synonyms ransom and rescue are sometimes interchangeable, but ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

In what contexts can reclaim take the place of rescue?

Although the words reclaim and rescue have much in common, reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

When might redeem be a better fit than rescue?

The words redeem and rescue can be used in similar contexts, but redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

When can save be used instead of rescue?

The meanings of save and rescue largely overlap; however, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rescue
Verb
On the way to rescue Tommy, Ellie figures out where Abby has been hiding out, and again chooses revenge over family. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025 This rescue follows another recent Carnival Cruise Line operation in which the Carnival Paradise rescued five men from a makeshift raft south of Cuba last week, according to video obtained by FOX35. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 23 May 2025 Wildlife officials were alerted to its unusual appearance and arrived to rescue the 2-month-old fox. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025 The driver, meanwhile, was trapped in the home for nearly three hours before he was finally rescued at around 4:15 p.m. and also taken to the hospital in stable condition. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rescue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rescue
  1. salvation
  2. save
  3. recovery
  4. salvage
Noun
  • Alas, the shape of his life doesn’t bend toward salvation, just as Dickinson’s film doesn’t guide him towards any sort of narrative salvation.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
  • Prophecies about salvation, spiritual warfare, and diabolic foes merged seamlessly into American evangelicalism; the disorientation of the pandemic deepened the appeal, and Q’s ideas found believers among yoga instructors, wellness influencers, and suburban moms.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
Definition of salvation
Verb
  • Reforming laws like these would save large quantities of water.
    — Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Both teams had their first two penalties saved, before Steaua eventually got themselves together to score two… which was enough because Barca missed all four of theirs.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Definition of save
Noun
  • These data points inform TD Cowen’s view that Starbucks’ same-store sales recovery in North America in the coming years will not progress as fast as Wall Street currently expects.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 29 May 2025
  • At the forum, Musk pointed to Tesla's share price recovery as evidence that the company is doing well and said he was committed to still being Tesla CEO in five years.
    — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of recovery
Verb
  • The South African leader had sought to use the meeting to set the record straight and salvage his country’s relationship with the United States.
    — Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
  • However, one free agent move could salvage things a bit on offense, and could be a sharp, valuable move to help out the offense.
    — Seth Quinn, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
Definition of salvage

Browse Nearby Words

rescripts
rescue
rescued
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Cite this Entry

“Rescue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rescue. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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