Synonyms of kidnap

kidnap

verb

ˈkid-ˌnap 

as in to abduct

to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully

the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abduct
• capture
• seize
• snatch
• run off with
• impress
• steal
• waylay
• make away with
• spirit
• make off with
• take
• hijack
• crimp
• catch
• shanghai
• cop
• abscond (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliver
• return
• rescue
• redeem
• ransom
• restore

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of kidnap

Its multiversal premise, which involves a man kidnapping a version of himself from another world, can be hard to wrap your head around, and as the first season went on, things only got harder to follow. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026

The group said that 7,825 people were kidnapped in that time, a 66% increase from the previous year. — Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Police in Oakland made an arrest and recovered a weapon after officers said a woman was kidnapped in East Oakland on Tuesday. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Donald had been kidnapped, beaten and killed by klansmen in retaliation for the killing of a police officer – a crime Donald had no involvement in – and to intimidate Black jurors from ruling in favor of Black defendants. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026