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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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 kidnap President Zelenskyy has been robust and stalwart, but his people are being killed by bombs and drones, children kidnapped. CBS News, 13 July 2025 In 2023, one of those dancers who was robbed — Mercedes Vega — was kidnapped and brutally murdered. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 13 July 2025 Needing more funds, Yeva reluctantly agrees to help two sisters aiming to kidnap a group of Westerners on one such tour — and then Russia invades. Connie Ogle, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025 Nintendo’s original damsel in distress first appeared in the 1981 game, kidnapped by DK for Mario (then called Jumpman) to rescue. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnap
abduct
Verb
  • Jessica Lynn Lopez is one of three people convicted in the 2012 slaying of Brittany Killgore, who prosecutors said was murdered after she was lured by one of the defendants, then abducted.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
  • Jamal, known as Baby J, was abducted at gunpoint and found the following day, less than 24 hours after an Amber Alert was issued and Milwaukee police designated the child critically missing.
    Ariela Lopez, jsonline.com, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnap. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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