variants
also kidnaping
as in hijacking
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapping
Verb
-
The war, which has reduced much of the coastal enclave to rubble, began when thousands of Hamas operatives crossed into Israel, killing and abducting hundreds.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2025 -
The continuing attacks have been accompanied by the burning of buildings and a rise in kidnappings, with gang suspected of abducting people to use as human shields against police drone attacks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the 23 years that have followed since Elizabeth’s abduction, Ed and Lois have spoken out on the trauma their family endured on numerous occasions.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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Attacks on girls’ schools and the abduction of girls at school or on the way to school have frequently targeted girls’ education because of harmful gender norms.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Kidnapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapping. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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