Synonyms of kidnapping

kidnapping 1 of 2

noun

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

• abduction
• rape
• hijacking
• snatch
• seizure
• impressment
• shanghaiing

kidnapping

2 of 2

verb

variants also kidnaping

present participle of kidnap

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

• abducting
• capturing
• seizing
• snatching
• running off with
• making off with
• hijacking
• stealing
• crimping
• making away with
• waylaying
• impressing
• spiriting
• shanghaiing
• absconding (with)
• taking
• catching
• copping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rescuing
• delivering
• returning
• ransoming
• restoring
• redeeming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of kidnapping

Noun

People in northwest Nigeria are caught between regular attacks by bandit groups who specialize in kidnapping for ransom and Islamist militants who have been expanding their territory. — ABC News, 19 July 2026

Helen is the queen of Sparta whose kidnapping by the Trojans ignited the Trojan War in the first place. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

The investigation remains active, and officials have released only limited details about what led to the kidnapping or the motives of the suspects. — David Benda, USA Today, 18 July 2026

Both were arrested and charged with kidnapping of a federal employee. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 17 July 2026

The kidnapping generated a large federal response, with FBI Director Kash Patel receiving reports, officials said at the press conference, for which the director of the Forest Service, Tom Schultz, travelled to Redding. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

In 1987, jurors convicted Sochor of the kidnapping, rape and first-degree murder of Patty, who had moved to Fort Lauderdale from Massachusetts in 1981, months before she was killed. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

The suspect was later booked into the Johnson County Jail on a kidnapping charge. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026

Though no suspects or motive have been identified in the Guthrie kidnapping, Savannah herself has wondered whether her prominence may have inadvertently put her mother in the way of bad actors. — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 16 July 2026

Verb

Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, appeared in federal court in Sacramento on Monday but did not enter pleas to charges of kidnapping a federal employee and aiding and abetting. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 21 July 2026

Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his adult son were charged with kidnapping a federal employee after a standoff that stretched from late morning into the early hours of the next day. — Ruyuan Li. Summary Produced By Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Henrichsen will be charged with kidnapping a federal employee, investigators said. — Alex Stone, ABC News, 17 July 2026

He was found not guilty of kidnapping his ex but was convicted of domestic battery by strangulation. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

And the surviving cartel scoundrels take the parting shot by kidnapping beloved Carter, putting a hood on him and taking the boy off. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026

One of the other six defendants, Emily Motyka, pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping charges earlier this month, MacBride said in a June 2 statement. — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

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