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
Physicians, nurses and other medical staff were being kidnapped and killed.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
President Joe Biden's campaign on Saturday excoriated former President Donald Trump for sharing a video on social media depicting what appears to be an image of Biden tied up and kidnapped in the back of a pickup truck.
—Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2024
Islamic insurgents and other heavily armed groups have increasingly turned to kidnapping to get money.
—Greg Dixon, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people, including 36 children, and kidnapping more than 250 others.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
An Alabama woman who confessed to lying about being kidnapped has pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the hoax that set off a national search last summer.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
Barbara Mae Tucker, a 19-year-old college student, was kidnapped and killed on Jan. 15, 1980, in Gresham, Ore., the Multnomah District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Hamas has also refused the ICRC’s requests to visit Israelis kidnapped by the group on Oct. 7.
—Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
The series, from Bridge of Spies and Treason writer Matt Charman, focuses on an international summit between the two leaders that goes sideways when Dalton’s husband is kidnapped and Toussaint is blackmailed.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
President Joe Biden's campaign on Saturday excoriated former President Donald Trump for sharing a video on social media depicting what appears to be an image of Biden tied up and kidnapped in the back of a pickup truck.
—Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2024
Islamic insurgents and other heavily armed groups have increasingly turned to kidnapping to get money.
—Greg Dixon, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people, including 36 children, and kidnapping more than 250 others.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
An Alabama woman who confessed to lying about being kidnapped has pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the hoax that set off a national search last summer.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
Barbara Mae Tucker, a 19-year-old college student, was kidnapped and killed on Jan. 15, 1980, in Gresham, Ore., the Multnomah District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Hamas has also refused the ICRC’s requests to visit Israelis kidnapped by the group on Oct. 7.
—Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
The series, from Bridge of Spies and Treason writer Matt Charman, focuses on an international summit between the two leaders that goes sideways when Dalton’s husband is kidnapped and Toussaint is blackmailed.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 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.
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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 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
Etymology
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief
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