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
The abductions add to questions about Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security improvements promised since taking office.
—
Aarón Ibarra, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie disappeared more than two weeks ago, in what authorities believe was an abduction from her home.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
The reward for information that leads to Guthrie's location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her abduction has been doubled to $100,000.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Aarón Ibarra, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie disappeared more than two weeks ago, in what authorities believe was an abduction from her home.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
The reward for information that leads to Guthrie's location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her abduction has been doubled to $100,000.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduction
Noun
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And one of those things is what the suspect in the kidnapping looks like.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
13 Feb. 2026
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More than a week after Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing from her Arizona home in a possible kidnapping, law enforcement brought a man in for questioning before releasing him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Beer that turned green − possibly a chemical reaction with the drugs Dominque Pelicot had been slipping into her drinks and food to render her unconscious for the rapes.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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By publicly reclaiming her identity, Pelicot sparked a global reckoning about rape culture, consent and accountability.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduction. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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