variants
also kidnaping
as in abduction
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
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
The defense challenged that interpretation, focusing on legal questions surrounding the status of the unborn child and whether kidnapping could be applied in the manner the prosecution argued.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 12 June 2026
Dontaye Montez Carter, 44, is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder resulting in death, kidnapping, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, related to the death of Kenneth Lawson.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
He could also be sentenced for up to 40 years in prison and fined up to $100,000 if convicted of the kidnapping charge.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Her 2020 kidnapping charge was dismissed, but she was convicted of residential robbery in the same case.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
These arrests came after the Pima County Sheriff’s Department named a suspect in a different kidnapping that took place a few miles from Guthrie’s house.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 June 2026
Wondra was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping in the second degree, destruction of evidence and a persistent violator enhancement, which can be added by prosecutors when someone has been convicted of at least three felonies.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 10 June 2026
There were three calls for deceased persons, one call to report a stabbing and one call for a kidnapping.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2026
Things get complicated when the vampire captured for the ritual kills several Council members and escapes, kidnapping Buffy’s mother to lure the Slayer to the Sunnydale Arms building.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
His guilt manifests in kidnapping young women, removing their faces through surgery, and attempting to transplant them onto his daughter.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
TdA members maintain control over their victims by threatening their families, assaulting them, and tracking down and kidnapping women who attempt to flee.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Last month, a Santa Monica man, also unaffiliated with the university, was charged with kidnapping a female UCLA student in March to try to rape her.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Frobisher responded by kidnapping an Inuk man by luring him to the boat with a bell.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Deepfake technology has exploded, leading to crimes ranging from kidnapping to business email compromise.
—Tom Kellermann, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Is kidnapping by your potential girlfriend's dad a dealbreaker for the relationship?
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Noun
Footage of a potential suspect recovered from a doorbell camera the night her disappearance led investigators to begin treating the case as a kidnapping.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
The defense challenged that interpretation, focusing on legal questions surrounding the status of the unborn child and whether kidnapping could be applied in the manner the prosecution argued.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 12 June 2026
Dontaye Montez Carter, 44, is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder resulting in death, kidnapping, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, related to the death of Kenneth Lawson.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
He could also be sentenced for up to 40 years in prison and fined up to $100,000 if convicted of the kidnapping charge.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Her 2020 kidnapping charge was dismissed, but she was convicted of residential robbery in the same case.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
These arrests came after the Pima County Sheriff’s Department named a suspect in a different kidnapping that took place a few miles from Guthrie’s house.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 June 2026
Wondra was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping in the second degree, destruction of evidence and a persistent violator enhancement, which can be added by prosecutors when someone has been convicted of at least three felonies.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 10 June 2026
There were three calls for deceased persons, one call to report a stabbing and one call for a kidnapping.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
Verb
On the morning of dueling public marches (now also featuring gay-rights activists), Roche, who has moved to the area temporarily, succeeds in kidnapping Cantrell.
—Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2026
Things get complicated when the vampire captured for the ritual kills several Council members and escapes, kidnapping Buffy’s mother to lure the Slayer to the Sunnydale Arms building.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
His guilt manifests in kidnapping young women, removing their faces through surgery, and attempting to transplant them onto his daughter.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
TdA members maintain control over their victims by threatening their families, assaulting them, and tracking down and kidnapping women who attempt to flee.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Last month, a Santa Monica man, also unaffiliated with the university, was charged with kidnapping a female UCLA student in March to try to rape her.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Frobisher responded by kidnapping an Inuk man by luring him to the boat with a bell.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Deepfake technology has exploded, leading to crimes ranging from kidnapping to business email compromise.
—Tom Kellermann, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Is kidnapping by your potential girlfriend's dad a dealbreaker for the relationship?
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
Director Robert Lieberman amps up the disturbing scares and emotions; an abduction scene is hard to forget.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
-
After her abduction, neighbors showed their support for the Guthrie family with yellow flowers and ribbons.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Investigators say his criminal history shows he had been arrested for abducting a young woman a year ago but was released on bail of $3,500 after 20 days.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
Investigators say his criminal history shows he had been arrested for abducting a young woman a year ago but was released on $3,500 bail after 20 days.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
And with the real-time aspect of The Pitt, there was opportunity to see the visceral intensity of a rape kit collection.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
-
The deputy fire chief paid him $100 via Zelle to commit the assault, according to the affidavits, and told him the woman had agreed to the attack as part of a rape role-play fantasy.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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