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
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Harpman’s 1995 novel, made famous in the 2020s by TikTok, also follows a group of women held captive by mysterious forces.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
But women were among the captives who survived the Middle Passage.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captive
Adjective
In-flight entertainment has become a surprising new front in the streaming wars, and a sizable $300 million per year business, too, as studios and streamers seek to sell their shows and films to captive flyers.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Harpman’s 1995 novel, made famous in the 2020s by TikTok, also follows a group of women held captive by mysterious forces.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
The São José, a Portuguese vessel bound for Brazil with more than 400 captives from Mozambique, struck a rock and sank in December 1794 off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
But women were among the captives who survived the Middle Passage.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 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
-
Asking the engineers to stop designing a firing squad chamber for the state of Idaho to execute death-row prisoners.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Levi was part of an emergency response team called to Nantwi’s housing unit to help National Guard members who sought backup after Nantwi was uncooperative during a prisoner headcount.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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 3 Apr. 2026.
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