Lima syndrome

noun

A condition, the inverse of Stockholm syndrome, in which abductors develop sympathy for their hostages.

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Meanings

nounLima syndrome (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA condition, the inverse of Stockholm syndrome, in which abductors develop sympathy for their hostages.

Origin

After a 1996 abduction at the Japanese Embassy in Lima, Peru, where the abductors released the hostages within a few hours.

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Cite this entry
APA

Lima syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lima%20syndrome

MLA

“Lima syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lima%20syndrome. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Lima syndrome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lima%20syndrome.

Source: Lima syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.