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
Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Bivolaru, 73, was arrested in Paris in 2023 and now faces charges in France, including human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Superior Court Judge Renee Reyna dismissed kidnapping charges against the two after finding the evidence insufficient on those two counts, the DA's Office said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
According to Idaho law, second-degree kidnapping is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Camila’s kidnapping will tie into the true story of Geronimo, the famed Apache warrior and medicine man.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Emma Stone plays the target of the cousins’ kidnapping plot.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
The world’s most famous kidnapping victim, Paul Getty III, was Bill’s godson.
—James Reginato, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
But an industry that went from celebrating a movie about an Iranian ogre kidnapping an American woman to movies about Iranian people themselves held hostage by a tyrannical state showed exactly why cinematic choices matter.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
These groups often finance themselves by taxing local businesses and kidnapping civilians for ransom.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
At an initial court appearance, Vaca pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping a policeman, resisting CHP officers, and evading police.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
People being selfish, people being greedy, people murdering other people, people kidnapping other people, taking advantage of women, people taking advantage of children, all of this awful stuff.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Jacob Francisallen Clare pleaded guilty to kidnapping from outside California and deprivation of child custody with a sentencing enhancement for kidnapping a child younger than 14, all felonies.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
An 18-year-old was arrested after allegedly kidnapping his 12-year-old brother along with his mother during a domestic incident, according to Michigan State Police.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Putin has already been declared a war criminal by the International Criminal Court for kidnapping thousands of Ukrainian children.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
Armond Langford, 32, is facing multiple charges including robbery, kidnapping, assault, wanton endangerment, fleeing/evading police, burglary and persistent felony offender.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Bivolaru, 73, was arrested in Paris in 2023 and now faces charges in France, including human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Superior Court Judge Renee Reyna dismissed kidnapping charges against the two after finding the evidence insufficient on those two counts, the DA's Office said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
According to Idaho law, second-degree kidnapping is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Camila’s kidnapping will tie into the true story of Geronimo, the famed Apache warrior and medicine man.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Emma Stone plays the target of the cousins’ kidnapping plot.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
The world’s most famous kidnapping victim, Paul Getty III, was Bill’s godson.
—James Reginato, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
When her favorite horror scribe gets into an accident near her home, Wilkes ends up kidnapping Sheldon, and the rest is movie history.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
But an industry that went from celebrating a movie about an Iranian ogre kidnapping an American woman to movies about Iranian people themselves held hostage by a tyrannical state showed exactly why cinematic choices matter.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
These groups often finance themselves by taxing local businesses and kidnapping civilians for ransom.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
At an initial court appearance, Vaca pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping a policeman, resisting CHP officers, and evading police.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
People being selfish, people being greedy, people murdering other people, people kidnapping other people, taking advantage of women, people taking advantage of children, all of this awful stuff.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Jacob Francisallen Clare pleaded guilty to kidnapping from outside California and deprivation of child custody with a sentencing enhancement for kidnapping a child younger than 14, all felonies.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
An 18-year-old was arrested after allegedly kidnapping his 12-year-old brother along with his mother during a domestic incident, according to Michigan State Police.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Putin has already been declared a war criminal by the International Criminal Court for kidnapping thousands of Ukrainian children.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
The biggest lead so far has been Nest camera video showing a masked intruder on Guthrie’s doorstep the morning of her abduction.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
And who would be harshing this hooligan’s buzz with a case of reform-minded abduction?—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Marina Noriega, 23, was indicted for abducting toddler Kehlani Rogers last month, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced in a news release.—
Michelle Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Clare, who has credit for 1,806 days behind bars since his arrested, admitted abducting the 3-year-old boy and the 16-year-old girl, who were the subject of an Amber Alert out of Tennessee before they were found.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The judge declared a mistrial on the third count of third-degree rape, after one juror refused to continue deliberations.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
His first New York trial, in 2020, ended in conviction on charges including rape in the third degree, with a sentence of 23 years in prison.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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