hostage
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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The idea is to avoid being held hostage by a major market correction or, worse, a recession by being forced to withdraw money during a down market.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
These are the first elections since the 7 October attacks, in which Hamas-led gunmen stormed through Gaza's border fence, killing almost people and taking 251 hostage.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
This one is very real: a kind of Vision 2.0, rebuilt by the intelligence agency tasked with saving the New Jersey town Wanda took hostage to shore up her classic family sitcom simulation.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
It helps you draw boundaries without being held hostage to accusations of selfishness.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
In 1613, Pocahontas was kidnapped by the settlers and held hostage.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
The group were members of Run for Their Lives in Colorado, which met weekly to support the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
He said they’re “devaluing the power of the food reward”—and because they never phase it out, clients are forever forced to bribe their canines in return for civility, like hostages to a chew-toy-loving despot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Former hostages held in Gaza and their family members have written bestselling books and released music albums.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The last live hostages were freed a year ago as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal in which Hamas stopped firing into Israel.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Outside in the world, volcanoes erupted, governments rose and collapsed and bartered for hostages, rockets exploded, walls fell.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
On the other hand, John Donvan conceded that there is a limit to living in the past—to hostaging yourself, for instance, to outdated agreements and other generations’ crimes.
From Slate ● Jan. 11, 2012
Q. Have you expressed that view of hostaging to President Bush?
From Time Magazine Archive
In their minds, hostaging means trading -- and trading means talking.
From Time Magazine Archive
Vocabulary lists containing hostage
Chapter 21: Age of Exploration and Trade
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"I Go Along" and "Theme for English B"
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