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
Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
After spending more than two years captive in Gaza, brothers David and Ariel Cunio were among the last living hostages to be released, and for the first time publicly, are sharing their stories of survival.
—Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the bodies did not belong to any of the remaining captives.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captive
Adjective
During the foster season, officials move captive pups into existing litters where they can be mothered by wild wolves.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
After spending more than two years captive in Gaza, brothers David and Ariel Cunio were among the last living hostages to be released, and for the first time publicly, are sharing their stories of survival.
—Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
Russian soldiers in Ukraine have long been accused by Kyiv and international rights groups of torturing captives.
—CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the bodies did not belong to any of the remaining captives.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captive
Adjective
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Habeas petitions are, as a rule, the last option for an imprisoned person to void their convictions.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Griner served 10 months before being released as part of a prisoner exchange.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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At the memorial site of Auschwitz, located in an area of southern Poland which was under German occupation during World War II, former prisoners laid flowers and wreaths at a wall where German forces executed thousands of prisoners.—
Vanessa Gera,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captive. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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