as in kidnapping
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal
discredited reports of abductions by aliens
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Recent Examples of abduction
Viv Ansanm is a gang coalition that controls most of Port-au-Prince and the abductions took place near downtown Port-au-Prince.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
The interview comes nearly two months after Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her home in Arizona on January 31 in what police believe to be an abduction.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The coanchor opened up about the weight of the decision to come back, nearly eight weeks after her mom's apparent abduction that has rocked her family.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
The interview comes nearly two months after Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her home in Arizona on January 31 in what police believe to be an abduction.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The coanchor opened up about the weight of the decision to come back, nearly eight weeks after her mom's apparent abduction that has rocked her family.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduction
Noun
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Detectives have not determined if he is connected to last week's kidnapping in the same general area.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In November, the board granted parole to Gregory Lee Vogelsang, who was convicted in August 1999 of more than two dozen child molestation and kidnapping charges involving five boys.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The 1991 movie stars Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, the one-time public defender who Cady haunts, blaming his long prison incarceration for rape on purposefully faulty defense tactics.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Some had their hands tied behind their backs, and others showed signs of torture or rape.—
Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduction. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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