abduction
noun
ab·duc·tion
ab-ˈdək-shən 
əb-
Synonyms
Examples of abduction in a Sentence
discredited reports of abductions by aliens
Recent Examples on the Web
Her ankles slashed, Levy was clearly struggling to walk after her apparently violent abduction.
—
Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025
Daniella Gilboa's name was originally Danielle, but after her abduction her parents changed it to Daniella, citing the Jewish belief that changing a name can change someone's fortune.
—Shlomo Mor and Waafa Shurafa The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025
At the time of her abduction, Ms. Gilboa had been studying piano and hoped to perform professionally one day, the forum said.
—Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
The abduction was caught on video, which later went viral on social media.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
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Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025
Daniella Gilboa's name was originally Danielle, but after her abduction her parents changed it to Daniella, citing the Jewish belief that changing a name can change someone's fortune.
—Shlomo Mor and Waafa Shurafa The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025
At the time of her abduction, Ms. Gilboa had been studying piano and hoped to perform professionally one day, the forum said.
—Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
The abduction was caught on video, which later went viral on social media.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for abduction
Articles Related to abduction
Dictionary Entries Near abduction
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduction. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
abduction
noun
ab·duc·tion
ab-ˈdək-shən, əb-
1
a
: the action of abducting
abduction of a robbery victim
b
: the tort or felony of abducting a person
2
: the unlawful carrying away of a wife or female child or ward for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse
Note: Sense 2 has its roots in common law. As statutorily defined, mainly in the nineteenth century, abduction was generally stated to include taking away or detention of a woman under a certain age, usually 16 or 18, with or without her consent or knowledge of her age.
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