The phrase "holds for ransom" means to keep something or someone as a hostage in exchange for a demand for money or some other requirement. Some possible antonyms for this phrase could be "releases," "frees," "unlocks," "delivers," or "returns," which all suggest the opposite action of holding someone or something hostage. Other antonyms could include "negotiates," which implies an agreement or compromise, or "ignores," which suggests a lack of interest or attention. Ultimately, the choice of antonym will depend on the context in which the phrase is used and the desired tone or meaning.