Synonyms of abducting

abducting

verb

present participle of abduct

as in kidnapping

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kidnapping
• capturing
• seizing
• snatching
• running off with
• impressing
• stealing
• making off with
• spiriting
• waylaying
• making away with
• crimping
• hijacking
• shanghaiing
• absconding (with)
• catching
• taking
• copping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rescuing
• delivering
• returning
• restoring
• ransoming
• redeeming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abducting

Clinton retaliates by abducting Terrance and Phillip and threatening to execute them, signaling his intent to invade Canada. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026

Working off a few vague details, Bret begins to imagine a link between Robert and a serial killer known as the Trawler, who has been abducting and torturing young women around Los Angeles. — Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

The father and son are accused of abducting two federal wildlife biologists at gunpoint July 16 at Gumboot Lake Campground in Siskiyou County and holding them during a 15-hour standoff. — Ruyuan Li. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Thornton, who is accused of abducting Sabastian, is described as being 5 feet 1 inch tall. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026

Party leaders, Wangchuk’s wife and supporters accuse authorities of ‘abducting’ him to stifle a growing protest movement, as police flood main protest with barricades and paramilitary forces. — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Heinrich confessed to abducting, assaulting and killing Jacob. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Some have theorized that the area is a hotbed of alien activity, positing that these extraterrestrial beings are abducting humans for study. — Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026

Maternal Instinct lays out how Parker moved from a web of odd, though ultimately harmless lies about the fake pregnancy to killing her pregnant friend (Simmons-Hancock), and abducting her unborn fetus to present to her then-boyfriend, Wade Griffin, as their own. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026