Captor

A **captor** is a person or entity that takes someone captive, especially in a conflict, hostage situation, or pursuit. The term emphasizes the active role in seizing and holding another person against their will. It suggests control, power dynamics, and a violation of freedom. A captor's motivations can vary, ranging from political aims to financial gain or personal vengeance. Their actions frequently involve restraint, confinement, and the potential for inflicting harm. The consequences of being held captive can be severe, encompassing physical and psychological trauma, and can even be fatal.

Captor meaning with examples

• The journalist bravely faced her captor, documenting their demands and the conditions of her imprisonment with the hope of revealing the truth. She endured several weeks of confinement, always looking for an opportunity to escape from the hidden location, focusing on what freedom would bring.
• Despite the threat from their captor, the negotiator attempted to establish dialogue, hoping to secure the release of the hostages. The negotiator knew the hostage's freedom depended on their ability to reason and talk the captor out of harming their hostages.
• After the escape, the police launched a massive search to locate the captor of the kidnapped child, determined to bring the individual to justice and ensure the child's safe return to their family. They sought to uncover all of the information about where the child was being held.
• The soldiers managed to disarm and apprehend the captor of the village elder during the surprise raid. It had been difficult to find where the captor had been holding the Elder, but they were relieved the village elder was recovered safely.
• Haunted by their time as a hostage, the survivor described the psychological manipulation tactics employed by their captor, which are used to break their will and instill fear. They had had to endure a long journey of recovery to get back to normality.