hostage
Seized for leverage
A hostage is a person held captive as security for the fulfillment of demands—typically the payment of ransom or compliance with political conditions.
Kidnappers take hostages; governments negotiate for their release.
The term extends to situations of powerlessness: I was held hostage by my own fears.
A hostage to fortune is something that makes you vulnerable to future misfortune.
One held by force
- abducteeOne forcibly taken
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
- detaineePerson held in custody
- kidnappedTaken captive illegally
seized · ransom · captivity · incarceration · bondage · confinement · shackled · bound
Payment for captive's release
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- demandsForceful requests or requirements
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
deal · diplomacy · compromise · concession · mediation · talks · settlement · stalemate
Lasting psychological wound
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- survivorOne still alive after
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
recovery · psychological · terror · fear · anxiety · Stockholm syndrome · aftermath · healing
Save from harm
- freedReleased from confinement
- liberationRelease from constraint
- releaseTo let go
- escapeFlight from captivity
extraction · SWAT · negotiator · siege · standoff · tactical · breach · perimeter
Decisive dangerous moment
- terrorismIntimidation through targeted violence
- militantAggressive cause supporter
- extremistOne holding fringe views
- insurgentOne who revolts
guerrilla · political · embassy · diplomat · prisoner exchange · detainee · foreign national · state-sponsored
captive
One held by force
kidnapped · seized · ransom · captivity · incarceration · bondage · confinement · shackled · bound · held
ransom
Payment for captive's release
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- demandsForceful requests or requirements
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
exchange · deal · diplomacy · compromise · concession · mediation · talks · settlement · stalemate · impasse
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- survivorOne still alive after
PTSD · recovery · psychological · terror · fear · anxiety · Stockholm syndrome · aftermath · healing · victim
rescue
Save from harm
- freedReleased from confinement
- liberationRelease from constraint
- releaseTo let go
escape · extraction · SWAT · negotiator · siege · standoff · tactical · breach · perimeter · safehouse
crisis
Decisive dangerous moment
- terrorismIntimidation through targeted violence
- militantAggressive cause supporter
- extremistOne holding fringe views
insurgent · guerrilla · political · embassy · diplomat · prisoner exchange · detainee · foreign national · state-sponsored · war
- action filmschase scene, car chase, explosion, stunt, shootout
- Rescue Storyhero, savior, rescue, escape, danger
- thriller tropesplot twist, red herring, cliffhanger, whodunit, femme fatale
- captivesprisoner, captive, inmate, detainee, POW
- legal statusesmarried, single, divorced, citizen, widowed
- NPCsNPC, merchant, guard, villager, shopkeeper
hostagecaptor
One who seizes another
kidnapper · hostage-taker · abductor · jailer · dictator
hostagehostage-taker
One who captures people
captor · negotiator · rescuer · liberator · demander
- held hostageCaptive for leverage
- hostage negotiationsDialogue to release captives
- hold hostageImprison for demands
- holding hostageDetaining for leverage
- hostage crisisProlonged captive situation
- hostage situationCrisis involving held captives