kidnapped also kidnaped
ˈkid-ˌnapt 
; kidnapping also kidnaping
; kidnapping also kidnaping
: to seize and detain or carry away by unlawful force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom
kidnapper
noun
or less commonly kidnaper
Examples of kidnap in a Sentence
the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom
Recent Examples on the Web
Steven Gress, 35, was arrested and is charged with kidnapping Miranda Corsette in St. Petersburg, Florida.
—
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Druze girls and women were kidnapped by Islamic state terrorists.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
In December 2019, a felony warrant was issued by the Kenner, Louisiana, police department for Khalid for kidnapping her son after efforts to find Aziz proved unsuccessful.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025
She was kidnapped, tied up, assaulted for two hours under a bridge, and horrifically murdered.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
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Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Druze girls and women were kidnapped by Islamic state terrorists.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
In December 2019, a felony warrant was issued by the Kenner, Louisiana, police department for Khalid for kidnapping her son after efforts to find Aziz proved unsuccessful.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025
She was kidnapped, tied up, assaulted for two hours under a bridge, and horrifically murdered.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidnap
Articles Related to kidnap
Cite this Entry
“Kidnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidnap. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
Etymology
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief
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