variants
also kidnaped
as in abducted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also kidnaped
as in captured
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
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 kidnapped
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
Tanzi was on death row for more than two decades for the 2000 murder of 49-year-old Janet Acosta, who was attacked in broad daylight on her lunch break, kidnapped, raped and strangled.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
American-Israeli Edan Alexander, who was serving in the Israeli military when he was kidnapped, is believed to be alive.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
On Tuesday gangs kidnapped two crew members from a Panama ship transporting sugar to a port in Port-au-Prince.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Several crew members were kidnapped (La'an, M'Benga, Ortegas, and Sam), along with other survivors of the attack.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
In the original scene, Neeson is notified over the phone that his daughter has been kidnapped, prompting him to threaten the culprits and set out on his quest to find her.
—EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Sometimes a criminal will make a phone call using a family member's voice and claim they have been kidnapped or arrested and need money urgently to steal from unsuspecting victims.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
At the end of the two-minute look, he’s seen being kidnapped as Ortega sets down a lighter, and a tear falls from his eye.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
But when the ruthless Mafia boss Nicola Grimaldi discovers his young son has been kidnapped and murdered, the suspect and Grimaldi’s former friend Vito seeks refuge with police.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
Tanzi was on death row for more than two decades for the 2000 murder of 49-year-old Janet Acosta, who was attacked in broad daylight on her lunch break, kidnapped, raped and strangled.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
American-Israeli Edan Alexander, who was serving in the Israeli military when he was kidnapped, is believed to be alive.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
On Tuesday gangs kidnapped two crew members from a Panama ship transporting sugar to a port in Port-au-Prince.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Several crew members were kidnapped (La'an, M'Benga, Ortegas, and Sam), along with other survivors of the attack.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
In the original scene, Neeson is notified over the phone that his daughter has been kidnapped, prompting him to threaten the culprits and set out on his quest to find her.
—EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Sometimes a criminal will make a phone call using a family member's voice and claim they have been kidnapped or arrested and need money urgently to steal from unsuspecting victims.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
At the end of the two-minute look, he’s seen being kidnapped as Ortega sets down a lighter, and a tear falls from his eye.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapped. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share