as in imprisoned
taken and held prisoner
the captive soldiers were treated humanely by the guards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
Inmates took two guards captive, and the third guard escaped.
—
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Jennifer Byrne,
Popular Science,
27 May 2026
Later, Mando returns to the multi-armed alien for more details about the gangsters who are holding Rotta captive.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captive
Adjective
His girlfriend, meanwhile, is being held captive by the third in a long line of pirates who have kidnapped her and fallen in love with her beauty.
—
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
Inmates took two guards captive, and the third guard escaped.
—
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Noun
But no need to worry—the clever teen isn’t exploiting the toil of a joyless captive.
—
Jennifer Byrne,
Popular Science,
27 May 2026
Later, Mando returns to the multi-armed alien for more details about the gangsters who are holding Rotta captive.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captive
Adjective
-
Fujimori, the daughter of a disgraced former president, and Sánchez, an ally of an imprisoned ex-president, beat 33 other candidates in the initial vote in April, but neither earned even 20% of support.
-
Fujimori, daughter of a disgraced former president, and Sánchez, an ally of an imprisoned ex-president, were on the runoff’s ballot after beating 33 other candidates in the vote in April, but neither earned even 20% of support.
Noun
-
Alicent and Helaena will be held prisoner until Aemond is found and killed.
-
The river has risen again and again, and in 1993, the Mississippi did not go over the levee, at first, but under it, burrowing a tunnel like a prisoner seeking freedom.
Adjective
-
On many mornings, shackled migrants plead guilty to military trespass charges rather than remain jailed awaiting trial.
Cite this Entry
“Captive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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