kidnapped also kidnaped
ˈkid-ˌnapt 
; kidnapping also kidnaping
; kidnapping also kidnaping
: to seize and detain or carry away by unlawful force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom
kidnapper
noun
or less commonly kidnaper
Examples of kidnap in a Sentence
the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom
Recent Examples on the Web
The war erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant groups backed by Iran, carried out a devastating cross-border attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others.
—
Joseph Federman, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
For Kenny Chesney superfan Sam (Domhnall Gleeson), the answer is kidnapping his therapist Alan (Steve Carell).
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2024
When a man was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from his home in Playas de Rosarito, Mexico, in November 2022, his family in Los Angeles County were allegedly contacted by a neighbor offering to negotiate a ransom.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Militants kidnapped more than 240 others, according to Israeli officials.
—James Hider, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
When the two kids under the age of 13 didn’t come home after school, Nashville investigators believed they had been kidnapped from their bus stop by 30-year-old Jenny Men, according to a Davidson County arrest affidavit.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Two decades ago, a man shot and killed another man at his ex-girlfriend’s Broward apartment before kidnapping her at gunpoint, police say.
—Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
While 105 people were released during a temporary truce last year, another 130 that were kidnapped are either dead or still being held by Hamas and other militant groups.
—Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
Physicians, nurses and other medical staff were being kidnapped and killed.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Joseph Federman, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
For Kenny Chesney superfan Sam (Domhnall Gleeson), the answer is kidnapping his therapist Alan (Steve Carell).
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2024
When a man was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from his home in Playas de Rosarito, Mexico, in November 2022, his family in Los Angeles County were allegedly contacted by a neighbor offering to negotiate a ransom.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Militants kidnapped more than 240 others, according to Israeli officials.
—James Hider, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
When the two kids under the age of 13 didn’t come home after school, Nashville investigators believed they had been kidnapped from their bus stop by 30-year-old Jenny Men, according to a Davidson County arrest affidavit.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Two decades ago, a man shot and killed another man at his ex-girlfriend’s Broward apartment before kidnapping her at gunpoint, police say.
—Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
While 105 people were released during a temporary truce last year, another 130 that were kidnapped are either dead or still being held by Hamas and other militant groups.
—Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
Physicians, nurses and other medical staff were being kidnapped and killed.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kidnap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to kidnap
Dictionary Entries Near kidnap
Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidnap. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
Etymology
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share