variants
also kidnaper
as in abductor
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Recent Examples of kidnapper
Marissa, who doesn't want to live happily ever after with a kidnapper, liar, and murderer, sure does.
—
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Seven years after disappearing from his California home in 1972, 14-year-old Steven Stayner escaped his kidnapper, Kenneth Parnell, and returned to his family in 1980.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Although all signs point to the woman's lecherous boss as her kidnapper, Morgan is convinced the Game Maker is ultimately behind the crime.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Had a kidnapper try to pull me inside his van at a bus stop in Arizona.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
During the rescue, one of the doctors is fatally shot by a kidnapper, who is later killed by the French team.
—Time, 21 Aug. 2025
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office The Context Stranger abduction is rare, as is news of a kidnapper attacking a mom to abduct her baby.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Authorities also do not have any information on the alleged kidnapper.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
As in Kurosawa’s film, the friends have swapped clothes, leading the kidnapper to snatch the chauffeur’s son rather than the mogul’s.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Seven years after disappearing from his California home in 1972, 14-year-old Steven Stayner escaped his kidnapper, Kenneth Parnell, and returned to his family in 1980.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Although all signs point to the woman's lecherous boss as her kidnapper, Morgan is convinced the Game Maker is ultimately behind the crime.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Had a kidnapper try to pull me inside his van at a bus stop in Arizona.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
During the rescue, one of the doctors is fatally shot by a kidnapper, who is later killed by the French team.
—Time, 21 Aug. 2025
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office The Context Stranger abduction is rare, as is news of a kidnapper attacking a mom to abduct her baby.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Authorities also do not have any information on the alleged kidnapper.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
As in Kurosawa’s film, the friends have swapped clothes, leading the kidnapper to snatch the chauffeur’s son rather than the mogul’s.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapper
Noun
-
Her abductor, 36-year-old Wolfgang Priklopil, had built a soundproof cellar beneath his home in Strasshof, Austria.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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However, the search took a dark turn when local police got another 911 call -- from Denise herself, bravely placed using her abductor’s cell phone.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An unidentified off-duty police officer and two family members were carjacked, and the carjacker suspect fled in the officer's personal vehicle.—
Rich Schapiro,
NBC news,
24 Aug. 2025
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Gill was waiting to pick up his wife from work when an armed carjacker opened fire in broad daylight.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The hijacker was killed when Turkish commandos stormed the airliner and freed the 40 passengers and crew.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Looking less like a tourist protects you more against pickpockets than these obvious pieces.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
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Fackham Hall follows pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) who lands a job at English manor house Fackham Hall.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The property rights of bodega owners and other retailers are eviscerated when shoplifters aren’t prosecuted.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
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Deputies responded at about 7:12 a.m. Sunday to reports of a shoplifter armed with a machete at a Walmart in Centennial, 109000 East Briarwood Avenue, according to a news release from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapper. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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