as in kidnaped
to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully
the gangsters planned to abduct the industrialist's young daughter and demand a huge ransom from her family
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as in kidnapped
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Recent Examples of abducted
Irwin Redlener, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The Amber Alert plan in Michigan began in 2001 and is a partnership between law enforcement and the media to immediately disseminate information to the public about an abducted child using the Emergency Alert System.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Columbia Heights police said Wednesday evening, hours after an Amber Alert went out, that an abducted infant and her mother were found safe in Minneapolis.
—Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Charlotte Walsh, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Reuters news agency initially reported the letter referred to the thousands of Ukrainian children reportedly abducted by Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022, but the letter only referred to helping children in general terms.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
The film follows skilled martial artist Wang Wei, whose daughter Rainy is abducted by a child trafficking ring.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
The thousands of Ukrainian children abducted since Russia’s invasion began 3½ years ago are once again at the forefront of international discussions as NATO leaders convened to discuss the war.
—Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Elio follows the story of an 11-year-old orphan, Elio, who feels so alone that his biggest wish is to be abducted by aliens.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Has she been abducted by aliens?
—Max Gao, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Authorities have said she was violently abducted from the parking garage of the new building on the night of April 16, 2023.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Peterson has maintained that Laci was abducted by burglars.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The United States, Europe, and every nation that claims to stand for law and justice must continue to insist on the return of abducted children as a nonnegotiable precondition for any settlement.
—Irwin Redlener, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The Amber Alert plan in Michigan began in 2001 and is a partnership between law enforcement and the media to immediately disseminate information to the public about an abducted child using the Emergency Alert System.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Columbia Heights police said Wednesday evening, hours after an Amber Alert went out, that an abducted infant and her mother were found safe in Minneapolis.
—Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.
—Charlotte Walsh, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Reuters news agency initially reported the letter referred to the thousands of Ukrainian children reportedly abducted by Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022, but the letter only referred to helping children in general terms.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
The film follows skilled martial artist Wang Wei, whose daughter Rainy is abducted by a child trafficking ring.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
The thousands of Ukrainian children abducted since Russia’s invasion began 3½ years ago are once again at the forefront of international discussions as NATO leaders convened to discuss the war.
—Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Elio follows the story of an 11-year-old orphan, Elio, who feels so alone that his biggest wish is to be abducted by aliens.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Has she been abducted by aliens?
—Max Gao, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Authorities have said she was violently abducted from the parking garage of the new building on the night of April 16, 2023.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Peterson has maintained that Laci was abducted by burglars.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abducted
kidnapped
Verb
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Emma Stone's getting kidnapped.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Emmett was just 14 when he was kidnapped from his great-uncle’s house by two White men who later admitted to beating and torturing the teen before shooting him in the head and throwing his body into the Tallahatchie River, weighed down by a 75-pound cotton gin fan.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abducted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abducted. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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