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
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Recent Examples of kidnapping
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The prosecutor turned to the day of the kidnapping.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
The military regime passed an Amnesty Law in 1979, and Brazil has never prosecuted any of the military officials responsible for crimes committed during the regime—kidnapping, torture, and murders.
—Adriana Carranca, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The trial for an Excelsior Springs man accused of rape, kidnapping, and murder in a high-profile case involving missing Black women has been postponed until next year, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
He is also charged with kidnapping, according to prosecutors, CBS News and Boston 25 reported.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Pic is the true story of the 1977 kidnapping that made aspiring Indianapolis entrepreneur Tony Kiritsis an eccentric outlaw folk hero.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Four months after the kidnapping, Tsurkov's sister, Emma Tsurkov, told ABC News that her sister was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Speaking more broadly, del Toro says Frederico's kidnapping had a tremendous impact on his work at large.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2025
Brandon Conley faces one count of kidnapping a minor and one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition of auto between $1,000 and $10,000.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
In addition to being charged with kidnapping resulting in death, Mahamed was also indicted at the time on charges of stalking resulting in death and kidnapping a minor, per the Attorney's Office.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Then four people were taken into custody, including 28-year-old Alexandra Kay Dawson, who is now charged with kidnapping a child under 16, authorities said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Charges were dismissed against Isaac Brice — originally charged with robbery — and Cedric Devall, who’d been accused of kidnapping Domingo during the break-in.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
The jihadist groups have been accused of beheading villagers and kidnapping children to be used as laborers or child soldiers.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Authorities began kidnapping Indigenous people and forcing them to work in the ranching and pearling industries in the northwestern part of the colony.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Zambada’s capture has led to a treason investigation in Mexico, since under Mexican law, treason includes kidnapping someone and shipping them to another country.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Jamel McGriff, 42, a Bronx ex-con with a decades-long rap sheet, has been charged with 14 counts of murder and 37 charges in total, including kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, weapons offenses, grand larceny and identity theft, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office said.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The prosecutor turned to the day of the kidnapping.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
The military regime passed an Amnesty Law in 1979, and Brazil has never prosecuted any of the military officials responsible for crimes committed during the regime—kidnapping, torture, and murders.
—Adriana Carranca, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The trial for an Excelsior Springs man accused of rape, kidnapping, and murder in a high-profile case involving missing Black women has been postponed until next year, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
He is also charged with kidnapping, according to prosecutors, CBS News and Boston 25 reported.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Pic is the true story of the 1977 kidnapping that made aspiring Indianapolis entrepreneur Tony Kiritsis an eccentric outlaw folk hero.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Four months after the kidnapping, Tsurkov's sister, Emma Tsurkov, told ABC News that her sister was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Speaking more broadly, del Toro says Frederico's kidnapping had a tremendous impact on his work at large.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Police arrested a person suspected of kidnapping a man after luring him to a location with promises of a photography session.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2025
Brandon Conley faces one count of kidnapping a minor and one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition of auto between $1,000 and $10,000.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
In addition to being charged with kidnapping resulting in death, Mahamed was also indicted at the time on charges of stalking resulting in death and kidnapping a minor, per the Attorney's Office.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Then four people were taken into custody, including 28-year-old Alexandra Kay Dawson, who is now charged with kidnapping a child under 16, authorities said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Charges were dismissed against Isaac Brice — originally charged with robbery — and Cedric Devall, who’d been accused of kidnapping Domingo during the break-in.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
The jihadist groups have been accused of beheading villagers and kidnapping children to be used as laborers or child soldiers.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Authorities began kidnapping Indigenous people and forcing them to work in the ranching and pearling industries in the northwestern part of the colony.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
Zambada’s capture has led to a treason investigation in Mexico, since under Mexican law, treason includes kidnapping someone and shipping them to another country.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
As PANs disappear, attackers will adapt—hijacking devices and exploiting weak points in how these tools are secured.—
Kevin Pierce,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Nathan Alan Gingles is accused of abducting his 4-year-daughter and killing her mother, grandfather and a neighbor in Tamarac.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Poquianchis recruited young girls from nearby towns and farms, deceiving families with false promises of work or abducting girls when alone.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Yale’s lab has tracked these abductions for years now, and the group released its latest report on Tuesday, which shed more light on the scope and scale of Russia’s indoctrination efforts.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Last year has seen a sharp rise in attacks on schools in conflict zones around the world, resulting in the death, abduction and trauma of thousands of teachers and students.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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