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Showing results for hostage. Search instead for hostades.
Definitions

hostage

[hos-tij] / ˈhɒs tɪdʒ /
NOUN
person held captive until captor's demand is met
Synonyms
STRONGEST
captive prisoner victim
STRONG
earnest guaranty pawn pledge scapegoat security surety token
WEAK
sacrificial lamb
Antonyms
WEAK
captor

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.

This was one of the reasons police struggled to find him after the shooting, says Dr Vincent Hurley, a former police hostage negotiator who now lectures on policing at Macquarie University.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Brendan O'Hara, vice chair of the all-parliamentary group for arbitrary detention and hostage affairs, previously told the BBC the Foremans were "innocent victims of a geopolitical power struggle".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Chelini, the hostage negotiator, said he has been getting calls from investors and old security contacts about the risks on the ground.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Coyle, from Colorado, was arrested in January 2025, according to the Foley Foundation, which advocates for the release of Americans taken hostage or arbitrarily detained abroad.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Fairies, magic, and now a hostage loose in the manor.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer