as in kidnaping
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
Now spreading to other Blue states and cities, the LA abductions saw heavy protests in DTLA and Trump federalizing the state’s National Guard and hundreds of Marines to clampdown.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
Lopez lived in the same apartment complex as the victim, but did not appear to have any contact with the child or her family prior to the abduction, police said, adding that his criminal background did not include any similar crimes.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
Only Morgan believes the Game Master is behind the abduction.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Researchers also note that alternative silencing tactics, such as abductions and criminalization, appear to be on the rise globally.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
Lopez lived in the same apartment complex as the victim, but did not appear to have any contact with the child or her family prior to the abduction, police said, adding that his criminal background did not include any similar crimes.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
Only Morgan believes the Game Master is behind the abduction.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Researchers also note that alternative silencing tactics, such as abductions and criminalization, appear to be on the rise globally.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduction
Noun
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There’s something about kidnapping that scares the fear out of you, Goldberg-Polin says.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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How a squad had burst into that house, taken away the adults, and left the children behind, all witnesses to the kidnapping.—
Mariana Enriquez
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Child recruitment by armed gangs surged by 70% last year, while rapes are on the rise.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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Cassie, his ex-girlfriend who first sued him for rape and trafficking, took the stand to tell her stories of their toxic relationship.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduction. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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