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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captive
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
These captive creatures are more likely to suffer in zoos than to live freely in their natural habitats.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025
Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
Tempering hope with patience As the U.S. talks about a ceasefire, relatives continue to press for the captives’ release.
—Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captive
Adjective
By indexing the minimum wage, the bill helps ensure that workers wages keep pace with inflation and aren't captive to political gridlock.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
These captive creatures are more likely to suffer in zoos than to live freely in their natural habitats.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
One of them – American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander – appealed directly to President Donald Trump in the second proof-of-life video of the captive released by Hamas Saturday.
—Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
Tempering hope with patience As the U.S. talks about a ceasefire, relatives continue to press for the captives’ release.
—Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captive
prisoner
Noun
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In 2021, the state passed a law allowing prisoners to choose the firing squad as a method of execution, in addition to the electric chair and lethal injection.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
8 May 2025
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New Faces During the show’s original run, the story told of a brave stranger who embarks on a mission to rescue Princess Aani, a prisoner of the Dark Queen.—
Spencer Whaley,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captive. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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