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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of kidnapping
Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Horner, 34, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to capital murder in the course of kidnapping.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
The doc, directed by Simone Manetti and produced by Italy’s Ganesh productions and Domenico Procacci‘s Fandango, reconstructs the still ongoing quest for judicial truth about the kidnapping, torture and murder of Regeni.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
In the years since speaking out against Bateman, Bistline also had to serve prison time for her role in a kidnapping case (she was charged with conspiracy to tamper with an official proceeding), but she has since been released and participated in the Netflix doc.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Williams and the other men are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, offenses punishable by any term of years or life in prison.
—Chase Rogers, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
Some of Bateman’s wives, like Naomi, a sister wife who spent two years in prison for her part in the girls’ kidnapping, were able to begin a process of recovery.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in a Fort Worth courtroom.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
In March 2024, authorities arrested 32-year-old Lashawn Washington and charged her with first-degree felony murder, kidnapping and obstruction of justice.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Kataib Hezbollah has been accused of kidnapping other foreigners.
—Todd Richmond, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Dozens of armed groups run rampant in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, extorting businesses, kidnapping people and driving farmers off their land.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
The crime had similarities to those committed by Bundy, who admitted to kidnapping and murdering young women throughout the Western United States in the 1970s.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Arnold's name was first brought up in the case after 23-year-old Boakai Hilton, who is believed to be an associate of Arnold, Arianna Del Valle, Jasmine Randazzo, Christion Williams, Lyndell Hudson and Freddie Hughes were arrested for allegedly kidnapping three men and assaulting them.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Guthrie added that the family immediately jumped to kidnapping for ransom.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2026
An Arizona sheriff’s deputy is accused of kidnapping a woman while on duty and was fired from the department investigating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, authorities said.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2026
More specifically, kidnapping present-day Nick (also Vaughn).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane appears to have broken his silence on a federal kidnapping case involving him and his label.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Horner, 34, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to capital murder in the course of kidnapping.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
The doc, directed by Simone Manetti and produced by Italy’s Ganesh productions and Domenico Procacci‘s Fandango, reconstructs the still ongoing quest for judicial truth about the kidnapping, torture and murder of Regeni.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
In the years since speaking out against Bateman, Bistline also had to serve prison time for her role in a kidnapping case (she was charged with conspiracy to tamper with an official proceeding), but she has since been released and participated in the Netflix doc.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Williams and the other men are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, offenses punishable by any term of years or life in prison.
—Chase Rogers, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
Some of Bateman’s wives, like Naomi, a sister wife who spent two years in prison for her part in the girls’ kidnapping, were able to begin a process of recovery.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in a Fort Worth courtroom.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
In March 2024, authorities arrested 32-year-old Lashawn Washington and charged her with first-degree felony murder, kidnapping and obstruction of justice.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
After kidnapping the child, Horner strangled Athena and dumped her body in the Trinity River in rural Wise County.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Kataib Hezbollah has been accused of kidnapping other foreigners.
—Todd Richmond, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Dozens of armed groups run rampant in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, extorting businesses, kidnapping people and driving farmers off their land.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
The crime had similarities to those committed by Bundy, who admitted to kidnapping and murdering young women throughout the Western United States in the 1970s.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Arnold's name was first brought up in the case after 23-year-old Boakai Hilton, who is believed to be an associate of Arnold, Arianna Del Valle, Jasmine Randazzo, Christion Williams, Lyndell Hudson and Freddie Hughes were arrested for allegedly kidnapping three men and assaulting them.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Guthrie added that the family immediately jumped to kidnapping for ransom.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2026
An Arizona sheriff’s deputy is accused of kidnapping a woman while on duty and was fired from the department investigating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, authorities said.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2026
More specifically, kidnapping present-day Nick (also Vaughn).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
-
The ministry said Iraqi security forces had managed to arrest one suspect and seize a vehicle used in the abduction.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The abduction sparked an operation from Iraqi security forces to track down those responsible and secure her release.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ramos, 82, denied abducting the 6-year-old and was never charged in his disappearance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
City officials said there were no credible reports of Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His son, Farouk, was a suspect in the rape and murder of 23-year-old Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen in London in 2008.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Alexander William Schecter, 26, was charged with kidnapping to commit another crime, first-degree residential robbery, two counts of forcible oral copulation and forcible rape, all of which are felonies, according to a news release shared by the DA's Office.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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