as in to abduct
to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully
the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom
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Recent Examples of kidnap
When Sam is kidnapped by the Italian mafia, Creasy vows to get her back safely and seek vengeance on her kidnappers.
—
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
When Juan Perea—the son of a prominent congressman—is kidnapped, Zuzunaga is assigned to carry out a solitary investigation in a city neighborhood teeming with suspects.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office is requesting the state Supreme Court to review a ruling that overturned the conviction of the man found guilty of murdering and kidnapping Sierra LaMar in 2012.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Hearn said Gaddis had been stalking the boy’s mother, and allegedly kidnapped the boy and his mother and forced them into an apartment complex near the location where the child’s body was ultimately found.
—City News Service, Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
When Juan Perea—the son of a prominent congressman—is kidnapped, Zuzunaga is assigned to carry out a solitary investigation in a city neighborhood teeming with suspects.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office is requesting the state Supreme Court to review a ruling that overturned the conviction of the man found guilty of murdering and kidnapping Sierra LaMar in 2012.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Hearn said Gaddis had been stalking the boy’s mother, and allegedly kidnapped the boy and his mother and forced them into an apartment complex near the location where the child’s body was ultimately found.
—City News Service, Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnap
abduct
Verb
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The Guyaki attack occurred on the same day that gunmen raided an orphanage in north-central Nigeria and abducted 23 pupils.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
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One of those people is Ed Smart, the father of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted at age 14 and held for nine months before being rescued in 2003.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnap. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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