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
With his wife Sharon, their then two-year-old twin daughters, brother Ariel and his partner Arbel, Cunio was among 76 people kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz some four miles (7km) from the Gaza border, while another 47 inhabitants were killed.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival alongside his partner, Noa Argamani, was reportedly starved during his captivity and lost 30-40% of his body weight, according to Israel's Channel 12.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
In an interview with police, Bowles acknowledged inviting Fuller to the party, but denied knowing of any plan to kidnap or kill her.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Oct. 2025
The man — who was not identified — had allegedly been threatened and kidnapped by the men at his home in Adelaide in April following confusion over a cryptocurrency payment, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
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Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival alongside his partner, Noa Argamani, was reportedly starved during his captivity and lost 30-40% of his body weight, according to Israel's Channel 12.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
In an interview with police, Bowles acknowledged inviting Fuller to the party, but denied knowing of any plan to kidnap or kill her.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Oct. 2025
The man — who was not identified — had allegedly been threatened and kidnapped by the men at his home in Adelaide in April following confusion over a cryptocurrency payment, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidnap. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
Etymology
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief
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