as in prisoners
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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Recent Examples of captives
It is thought to be the only slave revolution in history where the former captives overthrew their rulers and went on to govern the country themselves.
—
Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 2026
On a day in mid-July, three men kidnapped a bus full of schoolchildren and forced their captives into an underground bunker where they were buried alive.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
From France’s port cities, dozens of ships sailed for Africa every year, where merchants purchased human captives to be sold in the colonies.
—Jeremy D. Popkin, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
When the male guards flee, the captives emerge into a barren plain, and the girl, the last to survive, writes about her life.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 May 2026
Mohamed Soliman admitted to the attack on the Pearl Street Mall in June 2025 during a demonstration in support of Israeli captives held by Hamas, throwing two Molotov cocktails at the group, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 8 May 2026
The story revolves around nine warriors who travel to Tsushima Island to rescue Korean captives kidnapped by Japanese pirates.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 6 May 2026
One of the captives, Amanda Berry, escaped with her daughter and contacted police, who came to free Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus.
—USA Today, 6 May 2026
The captives come to believe there has been a coup, which is confirmed by the executions.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 2026
On a day in mid-July, three men kidnapped a bus full of schoolchildren and forced their captives into an underground bunker where they were buried alive.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
From France’s port cities, dozens of ships sailed for Africa every year, where merchants purchased human captives to be sold in the colonies.
—Jeremy D. Popkin, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
When the male guards flee, the captives emerge into a barren plain, and the girl, the last to survive, writes about her life.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 May 2026
Mohamed Soliman admitted to the attack on the Pearl Street Mall in June 2025 during a demonstration in support of Israeli captives held by Hamas, throwing two Molotov cocktails at the group, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 8 May 2026
The story revolves around nine warriors who travel to Tsushima Island to rescue Korean captives kidnapped by Japanese pirates.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 6 May 2026
One of the captives, Amanda Berry, escaped with her daughter and contacted police, who came to free Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus.
—USA Today, 6 May 2026
The captives come to believe there has been a coup, which is confirmed by the executions.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captives
prisoners
Noun
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The vessel split in two and sank within minutes, dooming most of the Allied prisoners trapped below deck.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Since then, the process has stretched to require four different levels of review, each with a list of procedural requirements that pose stumbling blocks for prisoners seeking help.—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captives. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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