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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captive
Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2026
The bill would task the state’s attorney general with establishing the guidelines to determine unreasonably excessive prices for captive consumers, such as at airports, hospitals, sporting events, large festivals or in correctional facilities.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
The captives have already exited the scene.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captive
Adjective
Even though trapping itself isn’t painful to the animal, some anti-trappers and hunters are uncomfortable with the idea of an animal being captive, or experiencing fear when the trapper arrives to check the trap.
—Skye Goode, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2026
The bill would task the state’s attorney general with establishing the guidelines to determine unreasonably excessive prices for captive consumers, such as at airports, hospitals, sporting events, large festivals or in correctional facilities.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
While all colonial enslavers were anxious about the possibility of poisoning plots in general, other, more local, even personal, concerns existed, such as an enslaver’s fear that one of his captives might try to hasten his death by putting something toxic in his food.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
The captives have already exited the scene.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
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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Aside from a prisoner exchange, little, if any, progress was made in the talks.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Feb. 2026
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Trilateral talks between the United States, Russia and Ukraine were held in Abu Dhabi in early February, where the sides met twice but emerged with only a limited breakthrough — agreeing to a 314-person prisoner exchange, the first such swap in five months.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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