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
Authorities also have not identified suspects or reasons for her abduction.
—
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
The statistics later proved to be exaggerated, Renfro said, but the concerns remained, bolstered by a series of disturbing, high-profile abductions, including the Hollywood abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh that thrust his father John Walsh into the spotlight.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The first is the absorbing tale of Camila’s abduction, an event that predates the Apache Wars by several decades.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
The statistics later proved to be exaggerated, Renfro said, but the concerns remained, bolstered by a series of disturbing, high-profile abductions, including the Hollywood abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh that thrust his father John Walsh into the spotlight.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The first is the absorbing tale of Camila’s abduction, an event that predates the Apache Wars by several decades.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduction
Noun
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Artists for Artists will produce a kidnapping thriller with a dark comedy element.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
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The Nancy Guthrie kidnapping hasn’t really given us a lot of actionable evidence.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The judge declared a mistrial on the third count of third-degree rape, after one juror refused to continue deliberations.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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His first New York trial, in 2020, ended in conviction on charges including rape in the third degree, with a sentence of 23 years in prison.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduction. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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