kidnapping 1 of 2

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

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kidnapping

2 of 2

verb

variants also kidnaping
present participle of kidnap

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kidnapping
Noun
Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 Investigators learned that Canon was in custody at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on unrelated charges and arrested him for kidnapping, child endangerment, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Julie Sharp, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Authorities have not charged Guevara with kidnapping. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 June 2026 Last year, both Karen Read, acquitted of killing her Boston cop boyfriend in June, and Sherri Papini, who served time for masterminding her own 2016 kidnapping in California, participated in documentaries about their cases. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 Fetal abduction is one type of infant abduction, which is defined as the kidnapping of a child under the age of one. Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026 Parker was arrested and charged with capital murder, murder and kidnapping. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 He was also indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in 2017, but the charges were eventually dropped. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 17 June 2026 In December 2020, prosecutors in Caddo Parish, in northwest Louisiana, dropped rape and kidnapping charges that had kept him jailed for 18 months, which stemmed from a 2016 accusation. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Verb
On the morning of dueling public marches (now also featuring gay-rights activists), Roche, who has moved to the area temporarily, succeeds in kidnapping Cantrell. Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2026 Things get complicated when the vampire captured for the ritual kills several Council members and escapes, kidnapping Buffy’s mother to lure the Slayer to the Sunnydale Arms building. ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026 His guilt manifests in kidnapping young women, removing their faces through surgery, and attempting to transplant them onto his daughter. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026 TdA members maintain control over their victims by threatening their families, assaulting them, and tracking down and kidnapping women who attempt to flee. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 Last month, a Santa Monica man, also unaffiliated with the university, was charged with kidnapping a female UCLA student in March to try to rape her. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 Frobisher responded by kidnapping an Inuk man by luring him to the boat with a bell. Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026 Deepfake technology has exploded, leading to crimes ranging from kidnapping to business email compromise. Tom Kellermann, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 Is kidnapping by your potential girlfriend's dad a dealbreaker for the relationship? Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Noun
  • Mansfield eventually confessed to Barrett's abduction and murder after roughly two years of interviews with investigators.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
  • Nancy Guthrie had a pacemaker, and investigators feared for her health as none of her heart medications were taken during the abduction.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Mexican law enforcement arrested the Los Angeles man accused of killing his wife and abducting their child before fleeing the country.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 June 2026
  • Smith is accused of abducting and assaulting an unnamed female victim near the 5400 block of North San Joaquin, a dirt road flanked by small homes and a horse barn about a 15-minute drive west of Guthrie's home.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Sochor was convicted of the rape and strangling of 18-year-old Patricia Gifford after meeting her at a New Year's celebration in 1981.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Per the New York Post, Jeronimo-Rojas acknowledged he was caught on surveillance footage but denied the rape and the robbery.
    Preston Mizell , James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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