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
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 kidnapping
Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Despite the trial being delayed the trial was delayed, Berchtold pleaded guilty to a felony charge of kidnapping in June 1976.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
In the first movie, Thames’ Finney and his psychic sister survived their run-in with the kidnapping villain thanks in part to a supernatural phone that could communicate with the Grabber’s ghostly victims.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2017, after Hernandez's second trial, he was convicted of kidnapping and murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2025
Officials also highlighted the arrest of Souvanheuang Phachansiri, a 65-year-old citizen of Laos, who had reportedly been convicted of second-degree murder, resulting in a life sentence, and of kidnapping, resulting in an 8- to 10-year sentence in Boston.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Yes, No One Saw Us Leave is inspired by a real kidnapping in the late 1960s.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
King also faced another kidnapping charge earlier this year.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
When the district attorney’s office joined the investigation into Scott’s kidnapping, prosecutors learned King was charged earlier this year in a case involving accusations of strangulation and kidnapping, Toczylowski said.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Terrorists stormed Israeli communities near the Gaza border and attacked the Nova music festival, killing families in their homes and kidnapping men, women and children.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
The attack included fighters flying gliders into a music festival and seizing kibbutzim along the Gaza border, killing, maiming and kidnapping civilians.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
Serial killers kidnapping vulnerable young people isn’t just for the movies, and that’s part of what makes this Australian horror-crime thriller so uncomfortable to watch.
—Vanessa Maki, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Well, kidnapping 13 million people is a crime.
—Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Daniels was also convicted of kidnapping Julio Verdecia, who survived a gunshot wound to the head.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Jesan escapes from defeat by kidnapping Ji-yeon and requesting Heon meet him alone.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
Jury from Jasper county hears Porter case The other case was a high-profile one in February 2006 involving Daniel Porter, who was accused of kidnapping his 7-year-old son, Sam, and 8-year-old daughter, Lindsey, in June 2004 to terrorize his ex-wife, Tina Porter.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Pedro Hernandez was convicted in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz, 6, who was on the way to his bus stop and sentenced to 25 years to life, but last July the sentence was overturned.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Despite the trial being delayed the trial was delayed, Berchtold pleaded guilty to a felony charge of kidnapping in June 1976.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
In the first movie, Thames’ Finney and his psychic sister survived their run-in with the kidnapping villain thanks in part to a supernatural phone that could communicate with the Grabber’s ghostly victims.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2017, after Hernandez's second trial, he was convicted of kidnapping and murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2025
Officials also highlighted the arrest of Souvanheuang Phachansiri, a 65-year-old citizen of Laos, who had reportedly been convicted of second-degree murder, resulting in a life sentence, and of kidnapping, resulting in an 8- to 10-year sentence in Boston.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Yes, No One Saw Us Leave is inspired by a real kidnapping in the late 1960s.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
King also faced another kidnapping charge earlier this year.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
When the district attorney’s office joined the investigation into Scott’s kidnapping, prosecutors learned King was charged earlier this year in a case involving accusations of strangulation and kidnapping, Toczylowski said.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
On October 7, 2023, militants led by Hamas stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and kidnapping about another 250 in a coordinated attack that blindsided the country.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Terrorists stormed Israeli communities near the Gaza border and attacked the Nova music festival, killing families in their homes and kidnapping men, women and children.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
The attack included fighters flying gliders into a music festival and seizing kibbutzim along the Gaza border, killing, maiming and kidnapping civilians.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
Serial killers kidnapping vulnerable young people isn’t just for the movies, and that’s part of what makes this Australian horror-crime thriller so uncomfortable to watch.
—Vanessa Maki, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Well, kidnapping 13 million people is a crime.
—Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Daniels was also convicted of kidnapping Julio Verdecia, who survived a gunshot wound to the head.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Jesan escapes from defeat by kidnapping Ji-yeon and requesting Heon meet him alone.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
Jury from Jasper county hears Porter case The other case was a high-profile one in February 2006 involving Daniel Porter, who was accused of kidnapping his 7-year-old son, Sam, and 8-year-old daughter, Lindsey, in June 2004 to terrorize his ex-wife, Tina Porter.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
As far as plane hijacking stories go, Good News has a pretty happy ending.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The hijacking of the sport and the community institutions that built it, by noxious forces using it for their own means.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted of abducting and murdering Etan Patz, must be re-tried by June 2026 or he will be released from custody, a federal judge in New York ruled on Friday.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Oct. 2025
-
On October 7, 2023, Hamas led an attack against Israel, killing 1,200 and abducting 251.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Then, in March 1978, Rignall went to Chicago police after surviving Gacy’s abduction and attack.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Trottner has continued to open up about her childhood abduction and its impact on her life.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share