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 two sides most recently went to war in 2006, which was prompted when Hezbollah conducted a cross-border raid in which three Israeli soldiers were killed and two others were kidnapped.
—
Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Sep. 2024
Princess Zelda has been lost, kidnapped, and forced into hiding.
—Ashley Bardhan, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2024
In addition to halting the violence between Israel and Hezbollah, officials say, a broader goal of the cease-fire is to jump-start stalled peace talks between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, where at least 97 people kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 are still being held almost a year later.
—Abigail Williams, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024
Something to know: 🚨 Political police agents have kidnapped and disappeared Berta Soler, Sakharov Prize laureate from the @europarl, since Sunday.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kidnap 
Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Sep. 2024
Princess Zelda has been lost, kidnapped, and forced into hiding.
—Ashley Bardhan, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2024
In addition to halting the violence between Israel and Hezbollah, officials say, a broader goal of the cease-fire is to jump-start stalled peace talks between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, where at least 97 people kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 are still being held almost a year later.
—Abigail Williams, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024
Something to know: 🚨 Political police agents have kidnapped and disappeared Berta Soler, Sakharov Prize laureate from the @europarl, since Sunday.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kidnap
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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Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidnap. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
Etymology
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief
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