kidnap

verb

kid·nap ˈkid-ˌnap

kidnapped also kidnaped ˈkid-ˌnapt

; kidnapping also kidnaping

Synonyms of kidnap next

transitive verb

: to seize and detain or carry away by unlawful force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom

kidnappee noun

or kidnapee

ˌkid-ˌna-ˈpē

kidnapper noun

or less commonly kidnaper

Example Sentences

the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom

Recent Examples on the Web Finding out that Joe actually did kidnap Marianne (Tati Gabrielle) and kept her in one of his infamous boxes was devastating. —

Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2023 Prosecutors contended that Stallworth and Brown planned all day to kidnap a child and did so on Oct. 12, 2019, at Birmingham’s Tom Brown Village public housing community. —

Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 9 Mar. 2023 Other commentators turned to satire, mocking that MrBeast’s fans are irrationally loyal people who would go as far as to kidnap and torture hapless customers who disturbed Feastables displays. —

Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2023 And threatening to kidnap or physically damage someone’s property can land you in prison for up to 20 years. —

Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023 As the full extent of the insurrection becomes clear, the FBI is also investigating whether some of the rioters had plans to kidnap members of Congress and hold them hostage. —

Colleen Long, Michael Balsamo And Lisa Mascaro, Chron, 10 Jan. 2021 The plot involved plans to kidnap Whitmer from her vacation home and blow up a bridge to help the kidnappers escape authorities. —

Will Carless, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2022 Barry Croft, 47 years old, of Bear, Del., was described by federal prosecutors as the ideas man in the foiled 2020 plan to kidnap Ms. Whitmer, a Democrat. —

Ben Kesling, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2022 The men, who were convicted of aiding a plan to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, were given sentences that could put all three in prison for at least seven years. —

Eliza Fawcett, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kidnap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.