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
In July 1982, Yarris was convicted of Craig's rape, murder, and abduction.
—
Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
Her family filed a missing person’s report the morning after her disappearance, but more than 80 hours passed before phones across the province buzzed with a child abduction alert, according to family lawyer Gustavo Vaca.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
The allegations led to the high-profile 2005 child abuse case, in which Jackson was indicted on multiple counts of molestation and conspiring to commit extortion, and child abduction.
—Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
What follows is a series of unexpected events that may or may not be connected, including secret government programs, a demonic cult, scandalous affairs, and an alien abduction.
—Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
Her family filed a missing person’s report the morning after her disappearance, but more than 80 hours passed before phones across the province buzzed with a child abduction alert, according to family lawyer Gustavo Vaca.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
The allegations led to the high-profile 2005 child abuse case, in which Jackson was indicted on multiple counts of molestation and conspiring to commit extortion, and child abduction.
—Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
What follows is a series of unexpected events that may or may not be connected, including secret government programs, a demonic cult, scandalous affairs, and an alien abduction.
—Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduction
Noun
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Footage of a potential suspect recovered from a doorbell camera the night her disappearance led investigators to begin treating the case as a kidnapping.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
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The defense challenged that interpretation, focusing on legal questions surrounding the status of the unborn child and whether kidnapping could be applied in the manner the prosecution argued.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
12 June 2026
Noun
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And with the real-time aspect of The Pitt, there was opportunity to see the visceral intensity of a rape kit collection.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
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The deputy fire chief paid him $100 via Zelle to commit the assault, according to the affidavits, and told him the woman had agreed to the attack as part of a rape role-play fantasy.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduction. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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