as in imprisoned
taken and held prisoner
the captive soldiers were treated humanely by the guards
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prisoner
one that has been taken and held in confinement
the captives in the concentration camp had devised a daring plan of escape
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captive
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
For too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster held fans captive.
—Letitia James, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Assets were frozen, sanctions were threatened, UN resolutions were passed, but still the captives remained imprisoned.
—Bill Keane, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captive
Adjective
Smart was held captive by the pair for nine months, moving between campsites in the Utah foothills and later to California while being raped daily by Mitchell.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
For too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster held fans captive.
—Letitia James, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Immediately upon regaining control of the lowlands of São Tomé, the Portuguese dedicated scarce manpower and equipment to the resumption of sugar cultivation, the repair of the mills, and the terrorizing of new shipments of captives.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Assets were frozen, sanctions were threatened, UN resolutions were passed, but still the captives remained imprisoned.
—Bill Keane, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captive
Adjective
-
Yenisey Taboada’s small apartment in Havana is filled with photos of her imprisoned son, Duannis Tabaoda.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In the play’s penultimate scene — one of the most gorgeous, daring and breathless in American theater, and all taking place in an imprisoned Gallimard’s imagination — Song strips for Gallimard, trying to force him to confront the truth.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Toward that effort, prisoner leadership sought to implement a push-button technology to avoid needing IDOC workers to pull the triggers.—
Kevin Fixler
April 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Ten prisoners housed in the Orleans Justice Center made their escape last spring, maneuvering out of a small hole in a wall and making their way out into the night.—
Devon Sayers,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On many mornings, shackled migrants plead guilty to military trespass charges rather than remain jailed awaiting trial.—
Agnel Philip,
ProPublica,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captive. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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