hostage-takers
Those seizing human collateral
Hostage-takers are people who seize and hold others captive, typically to extract demands from a third party—ransom, political concessions, or safe passage.
The term applies to kidnappers, terrorists, and prison inmates who take guards captive: Negotiators established contact with the hostage-takers.
Figuratively, anyone who leverages others' vulnerability for gain: The insurance companies are hostage-takers.
People who seize others
- abductorsThose who take unlawfully
- captorsThose holding prisoners
- terroristsThose using violence politically
- gunmenArmed violent criminals
hijackers · extortionists · perpetrators · assailants · armed men · criminals · felons · desperados
Forceful requests or requirements
- ransomPayment for captive's release
- deadlinesSubmission cutoff times
- ultimatumsFinal non-negotiable demands
- negotiationsFormal discussion seeking agreement
standoff · siege · barricade · crisis · release · exchange · intermediaries · mediators
Carrying weapons
- maskedHaving face covered
- gunpointAimed weapon's end
- fortifiedMade more resistant
- barricadedSealed off defensively
surveillance · perimeter · escape route · weapons · ammunition · restraints · blindfolds · guards
Those using violence politically
- militantsAggressive advocates for causes
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- separatistsAutonomy-seeking faction members
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
guerrillas · extremists · radicals · paramilitaries · freedom fighters · rebels · dissidents · nationalists
kidnappers
People who seize others
- abductorsThose who take unlawfully
- captorsThose holding prisoners
- terroristsThose using violence politically
gunmen · hijackers · extortionists · perpetrators · assailants · armed men · criminals · felons · desperados · convicts
demands
Forceful requests or requirements
- ransomPayment for captive's release
- deadlinesSubmission cutoff times
- ultimatumsFinal non-negotiable demands
negotiations · standoff · siege · barricade · crisis · release · exchange · intermediaries · mediators · safe passage
armed
Carrying weapons
barricaded · surveillance · perimeter · escape route · weapons · ammunition · restraints · blindfolds · guards · lookouts
terrorists
Those using violence politically
- militantsAggressive advocates for causes
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- separatistsAutonomy-seeking faction members
revolutionaries · guerrillas · extremists · radicals · paramilitaries · freedom fighters · rebels · dissidents · nationalists · jihadists
hostage-takersnegotiators
Those who arrange agreements
hostage negotiators · SWAT teams · first responders · law enforcement · mediators
hostage-takersliberators
Those who free captives
rescuers · saviors · freers · emancipators · protectors
take, host, taken, taking, overtake, takes, hostage, retake, taker