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captor

[kap-ter] / ˈkæp tər /
NOUN
one who has captured a person or thing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
detainer holder impounder imprisoner incarcerator jailer
STRONG
WEAK
Antonyms
STRONGEST
WEAK
surrenderer


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.

See Examples For:

When they escape from their captor, Jack is overwhelmed by the vastness and unfamiliarity of the milieu surrounding him.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 10, 2026

Under prize law, the vessels and cargo become the property of the captor and would be auctioned for profit.

From The Wall Street Journal May 15, 2026

The IAR said it took a year to persuade the bears' captor to agree to their release.

From BBC Oct. 22, 2025

Under the fugitive slave laws, the burden of proof belonged not to the captor but to the captured.

From Slate Jul. 28, 2025

He did not care about finding his captor, repaying insults, or inflicting eternal punishments.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings shared an emotional video pleading with their mother’s potential captors.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 6, 2026

The family of the kidnapped mother of a top US TV news anchor made a new plea for information from her captors on Thursday, after investigators said they believed the 84-year-old was still alive.

From Barron's Feb. 6, 2026

They were eventually able to leave, via occupied Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Poland on a journey where everything they had, including their phones and possessions, were first of all scrutinised by their Russian captors.

From BBC Jan. 23, 2026

Three months later, they said a released hostage who spent time with him in a tunnel had told them how he had acted as a "spokesman to the captors" and "lifted everyone's spirits".

From BBC Oct. 10, 2025

“Just a second,” he said, then returned his attention to Lana’s captors.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner



Vocabulary lists containing captor


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