variants
also kidnaping
as in hijacking
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal
an alert system for the prompt reporting of juvenile kidnappings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
variants
also kidnaping
as in abducting
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
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Recent Examples of kidnapping
Tanya Mohn, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Eventually, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Eventually, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department publicly alleged that a kidnapping had not occurred, and that Emmanuel was believed dead.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
This photo provided by FBI Seattle shows FBI and other law enforcement agencies participating in the search for Travis Decker, who was charged with murder and kidnapping, at Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth, Wa.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Decker faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
All three men were charged with the murder and kidnapping of Pahler, whose body had been buried in a shallow grave approximately 1,000 feet from her home, according to the San Luis Obispo District Attorney's Office.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
While the gang has principally focused on human trafficking and other crimes targeting migrants, it has also been linked to extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug smuggling, according to the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Tran’s brother, Kevin, was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, as well as kidnapping for ransom and false imprisonment with gun-use enhancements.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
The kidnapping drew the attention of Pope Leo, who had issued an urgent appeal for the hostages’ release, and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
In addition to being charged with kidnapping resulting in death, Mahamed was also indicted at the time on charges of stalking resulting in death and kidnapping a minor, per the Attorney's Office.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Then four people were taken into custody, including 28-year-old Alexandra Kay Dawson, who is now charged with kidnapping a child under 16, authorities said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Charges were dismissed against Isaac Brice — originally charged with robbery — and Cedric Devall, who’d been accused of kidnapping Domingo during the break-in.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
The jihadist groups have been accused of beheading villagers and kidnapping children to be used as laborers or child soldiers.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Authorities began kidnapping Indigenous people and forcing them to work in the ranching and pearling industries in the northwestern part of the colony.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Zambada’s capture has led to a treason investigation in Mexico, since under Mexican law, treason includes kidnapping someone and shipping them to another country.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
And Now In the past, crisis leadership was primarily focused on internal emergencies, such as cyberattacks against the company, reputational crises or scandals, sudden financial upheavals within the company, or even kidnapping or hostage situations during business travel.
—Dahlia Mihyar, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
Perceived risks for all travelers including terrorism, kidnapping, and disease actually occur less frequently than road injuries.
—Tanya Mohn, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Eventually, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Eventually, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department publicly alleged that a kidnapping had not occurred, and that Emmanuel was believed dead.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
This photo provided by FBI Seattle shows FBI and other law enforcement agencies participating in the search for Travis Decker, who was charged with murder and kidnapping, at Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth, Wa.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Decker faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
All three men were charged with the murder and kidnapping of Pahler, whose body had been buried in a shallow grave approximately 1,000 feet from her home, according to the San Luis Obispo District Attorney's Office.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
While the gang has principally focused on human trafficking and other crimes targeting migrants, it has also been linked to extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug smuggling, according to the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Tran’s brother, Kevin, was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, as well as kidnapping for ransom and false imprisonment with gun-use enhancements.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
The kidnapping drew the attention of Pope Leo, who had issued an urgent appeal for the hostages’ release, and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Brandon Conley faces one count of kidnapping a minor and one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition of auto between $1,000 and $10,000.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
In addition to being charged with kidnapping resulting in death, Mahamed was also indicted at the time on charges of stalking resulting in death and kidnapping a minor, per the Attorney's Office.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Then four people were taken into custody, including 28-year-old Alexandra Kay Dawson, who is now charged with kidnapping a child under 16, authorities said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Charges were dismissed against Isaac Brice — originally charged with robbery — and Cedric Devall, who’d been accused of kidnapping Domingo during the break-in.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
The jihadist groups have been accused of beheading villagers and kidnapping children to be used as laborers or child soldiers.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Authorities began kidnapping Indigenous people and forcing them to work in the ranching and pearling industries in the northwestern part of the colony.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Zambada’s capture has led to a treason investigation in Mexico, since under Mexican law, treason includes kidnapping someone and shipping them to another country.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
And Now In the past, crisis leadership was primarily focused on internal emergencies, such as cyberattacks against the company, reputational crises or scandals, sudden financial upheavals within the company, or even kidnapping or hostage situations during business travel.
—Dahlia Mihyar, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The judge who granted shock probation to a man later charged with abducting three people before robbing a bank has recused herself from the case.—
Louisville Courier Journal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
-
And if abducting all the show's children wasn't enough of a cliffhanger, the season/series ended with Claire Bennigan (Lily Rabe) sacrificing herself to save her son.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the last episode of the show, Livingston is revealed to be the brains behind the abduction of Alex Anderson and his fellow doctors.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Created by Matt Charman, who previously brought to life Netflix's 2022 thriller Treason, Hostage stars Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack) as Abigail Dalton, the British Prime Minister who's swept up in a high-stakes conspiracy following the abduction of her husband, Alex (Ashley Thomas).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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