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

The Grants offer Seema up as a scullery maid to make amends with the Frasers for all that kidnapping business, but Arch Bug really just wants to know if Henry returns for Julia. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Two other members of the kidnapping ring became government cooperators. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026

The kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, captured national attention during the first half of the year. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

On Tuesday, Perez was arrested on an active warrant and charged with first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree assault with a firearm and second-degree larceny. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 2026

Emerging from a bath in the finale, Aaliyah orders yet another kidnapping attempt, knowing Joe's team – including Cruz and Two Cups (James Jordan) – will try to come to her rescue. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Costarring Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman, Lioness season 3 pivots from the previous two seasons by putting Joe at the center of a major scandal that follows a double kidnapping attempt. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2026

Hawkins is charged with felony second degree kidnapping and misdemeanor domestic violence, court documents report. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026

The area would have been ideal for Shergar's kidnappers to get away with disposing of a body, according to journalist Tommy Conlon, who wrote a book about the IRA kidnapping of supermarket executive Don Tidey. — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Verb

Someone had come up with the idea of kidnapping Shergar and holdin' him to ransom. — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Five people have been indicted for allegedly kidnapping a man at gunpoint in Hartford earlier this year and holding him ransom. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026

Host Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a true crime influencer, kidnapping survivor and former law enforcement officer went to Hall's hometown of Palm Bay to investigate her disappearance. — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

About a half-million people were reported missing last year in the United States, including those who may have left voluntarily, missing minors, kidnapping victims and others, according to the FBI’s Crime Information Center. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

The state police should be focusing on fighting real crimes and not kidnapping immigrants in order to receive federal grant dollars. — Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2026

Tomlin, Fonda and Parton played a trio of secretaries who took revenge on their sexist boss by kidnapping him and enacting changes in the workplace in his name. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Its multiversal premise, which involves a man kidnapping a version of himself from another world, can be hard to wrap your head around, and as the first season went on, things only got harder to follow. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026

One of those holding out hope is kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her home at age 14 in 2002 and rescued nine months later. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026