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
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 31 Oct. 2025
The true-crime film follows the mysterious death of a young mother and her son's kidnapping.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
So is this just some light criminal kidnapping or are the stakes here intergalactic?
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
He was sentenced to 17 years for armed kidnapping and 17 years for armed burglary with assault or battery.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Police received another call in the same area about a kidnapping and home invasion .
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
That closeness, Peters said, makes Americans prime targets for extortion, kidnapping and terror.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Other crime reports in Texas have been linked to the pair, like murders in Hillsboro, Abilene, Sherman and Dallas, as well as more robberies in Lufkin and Dallas, auto theft in Victoria and the kidnapping of a sheriff and police chief in Wellington.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
In June 2025, a jury found Silguero guilty on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy, prosecutors said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers shot and killed a person in west Charlotte who had been accused of shooting two other people, one fatally, and kidnapping a third.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
That’s one of the things that Teddy (Jesse Plemons), an incel eco-terrorist, says to Michelle (Emma Stone) after kidnapping her with his neurodivergent cousin Donny (newcomer Aidan Delbis) and tying her up in their basement.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Jimenez and Garfias were found not guilty of kidnapping the victim.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
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
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
Noun
Stacey Wondra, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech told the Idaho Statesman.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 31 Oct. 2025
The true-crime film follows the mysterious death of a young mother and her son's kidnapping.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
So is this just some light criminal kidnapping or are the stakes here intergalactic?
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
He was sentenced to 17 years for armed kidnapping and 17 years for armed burglary with assault or battery.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Police received another call in the same area about a kidnapping and home invasion .
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
That closeness, Peters said, makes Americans prime targets for extortion, kidnapping and terror.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Other crime reports in Texas have been linked to the pair, like murders in Hillsboro, Abilene, Sherman and Dallas, as well as more robberies in Lufkin and Dallas, auto theft in Victoria and the kidnapping of a sheriff and police chief in Wellington.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
In June 2025, a jury found Silguero guilty on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy, prosecutors said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
After kidnapping Michelle, negotiations take place between the three characters, with Teddy and Don changing from their silver bodysuits to business suits complete with ties and blazers, a significant choice reflecting the characters’ objectives.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers shot and killed a person in west Charlotte who had been accused of shooting two other people, one fatally, and kidnapping a third.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
That’s one of the things that Teddy (Jesse Plemons), an incel eco-terrorist, says to Michelle (Emma Stone) after kidnapping her with his neurodivergent cousin Donny (newcomer Aidan Delbis) and tying her up in their basement.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Jimenez and Garfias were found not guilty of kidnapping the victim.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
The five detainees were returned to Japan the following month and reunited with their families – 20 to 30 years after their abduction.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The abduction must pose a credible threat of imminent danger, serious bodily injury or death to the child, according to DPS.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Now, a sinister witch (Sarah Stephens) who bathes her broomstick in the woods tortures their existence, abducting their infant and leaving the family in shambles.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
He was convicted of raping and killing a 6-year-old girl in 1979 after entering through a window and abducting her from her central Florida home.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The organization announced an investigation by outside law firm Omnia Strategy in January 2024 after allegations of human rights abuses, including rape and torture.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
No More Shame, which focuses on the shocking rape trial of Gisèle Pelicot.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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