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 1982 comedy musical saw Burnett as a ruthless orphanage head mistress who, assisted by her younger brother (played by Tim Curry) and his wife (Bernadette Peters), plotted to kidnap the titular child after she was adopted by a billionaire.
—
Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 26 Apr. 2024
In March 2022, the two men also kidnapped and robbed another person in Park City, officials said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
Militants kidnapped more than 240 people on Oct. 7.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
On paper, the gig is straightforward, albeit unconscionable: kidnap the daughter of a wealthy businessman and hold her until daddy coughs up the ransom.
—Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Meticulously reviewing archives of adoption files and court cases, Nolan finds that many adoptions involved fraudulent testimonies, suggesting that children were kidnapped or that their families were coerced into giving them up.
—Rachel Nolan, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Winkler’s wife, Mary, and the couple’s three children were missing in the aftermath of the grisly discovery, and there was growing concern that the family had been kidnapped.
—Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
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
Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 26 Apr. 2024
In March 2022, the two men also kidnapped and robbed another person in Park City, officials said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
Militants kidnapped more than 240 people on Oct. 7.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
On paper, the gig is straightforward, albeit unconscionable: kidnap the daughter of a wealthy businessman and hold her until daddy coughs up the ransom.
—Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Meticulously reviewing archives of adoption files and court cases, Nolan finds that many adoptions involved fraudulent testimonies, suggesting that children were kidnapped or that their families were coerced into giving them up.
—Rachel Nolan, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Winkler’s wife, Mary, and the couple’s three children were missing in the aftermath of the grisly discovery, and there was growing concern that the family had been kidnapped.
—Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
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
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.
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Dictionary Entries Near kidnap
Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidnap. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
Etymology
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief
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