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
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Recent Examples of kidnap
When Sam is kidnapped by the Italian mafia, Creasy vows to get her back safely and seek vengeance on her kidnappers.
—
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
When Juan Perea—the son of a prominent congressman—is kidnapped, Zuzunaga is assigned to carry out a solitary investigation in a city neighborhood teeming with suspects.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office is requesting the state Supreme Court to review a ruling that overturned the conviction of the man found guilty of murdering and kidnapping Sierra LaMar in 2012.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Hearn said Gaddis had been stalking the boy’s mother, and allegedly kidnapped the boy and his mother and forced them into an apartment complex near the location where the child’s body was ultimately found.
—City News Service, Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
When Juan Perea—the son of a prominent congressman—is kidnapped, Zuzunaga is assigned to carry out a solitary investigation in a city neighborhood teeming with suspects.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office is requesting the state Supreme Court to review a ruling that overturned the conviction of the man found guilty of murdering and kidnapping Sierra LaMar in 2012.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Hearn said Gaddis had been stalking the boy’s mother, and allegedly kidnapped the boy and his mother and forced them into an apartment complex near the location where the child’s body was ultimately found.
—City News Service, Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnap
abduct
Verb
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One character, a troubled traveling man named Herald Loomis (Joshua Boone), bears the scars of post-slavery enslavement after being abducted into seven years of hard labor under Joe Turner.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
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Armed men abducted former Malian minister Mountaga Tall from his home without explanation or arrest warrant, his family said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnap. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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