variants
also kidnaped
as in abducted
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
variants
also kidnaped
as in captured
to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully
the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kidnapped
Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Over the years, those proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and more have murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped thousands.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
In 1984, Islamic Jihad terrorists kidnapped and later tortured and killed CIA station chief William Buckley.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
The latest film from Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa follows a 19-year-old degenerate raver from London who, in the last gasp of an all-time bender, is kidnapped by Stephen Graham and chained up in the basement of a posh estate.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
Decomposing and mutilated human remains found on a beach on the resort island of Bali belonged to a Ukrainian man kidnapped and tortured while on holiday, Indonesian police said Friday.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The only additional information we, and Claire and Jamie, get is how Fanny and Jane wound up being kidnapped and taken to the brothel where William found them.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Later that day, Mamdani’s tête-à-tête also appeared to have secured the release of a Columbia student who had been kidnapped by ICE that morning.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Authorities believe the 84-year-old was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
His family believes Israeli operatives kidnapped him to get information about the case and took him to Israel.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Over the years, those proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and more have murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped thousands.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
In 1984, Islamic Jihad terrorists kidnapped and later tortured and killed CIA station chief William Buckley.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
The latest film from Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa follows a 19-year-old degenerate raver from London who, in the last gasp of an all-time bender, is kidnapped by Stephen Graham and chained up in the basement of a posh estate.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
Decomposing and mutilated human remains found on a beach on the resort island of Bali belonged to a Ukrainian man kidnapped and tortured while on holiday, Indonesian police said Friday.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The only additional information we, and Claire and Jamie, get is how Fanny and Jane wound up being kidnapped and taken to the brothel where William found them.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Later that day, Mamdani’s tête-à-tête also appeared to have secured the release of a Columbia student who had been kidnapped by ICE that morning.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Authorities believe the 84-year-old was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapped
Adjective
-
The African Union, which includes 55 member states on the continent, condemned the attack Sunday and called for the release of abducted women and children.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Savannah Guthrie is making a last-minute plea for help in finding her abducted mother, Nancy Guthrie.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Until Puerto Rico is allowed to decide how its energy is produced, who profits from it, and how it is governed, the archipelago will remain trapped in a system that reproduces vulnerability instead of resilience.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Lynch became trapped in her vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.—
Storey Wertheimer,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapped. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
