variants
also kidnaped
as in abducted
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of kidnapped
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
The inquiry commission pointed to comments Herzog made less than a week after Hamas militants killed and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis on October 7, 2023.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Black people, kidnapped and enslaved, had none, and as freedom was gained, new laws were written to hold them in place.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
The assault is the latest in escalating violence across northern Nigeria, where more than 150 Christians were kidnapped from churches in January.
—Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Though Abuja claims to be ramping up its campaign against radical militias, hundreds of people have been killed or kidnapped so far this year, underscoring the lawlessness that pervades swaths of the country.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
For example, when the toddler son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped, a piece of paper demanding $50,000 was found on a windowsill.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
When Gordon’s nephew, John Paul Getty III, was kidnapped in Italy in 1973, Bill was dispatched with the ransom (a story dramatized in the FX series Trust, with Harris Dickinson as John Paul Getty III).
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
Say Nothing tackles this divisive period of history through a number of perspectives, including reluctant IRA member Dolours Price (Lola Petticrew) and those involved in the disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of 10 who was kidnapped by the group and never seen alive again.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
Just a few minutes ago, Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped in the Los Chorros urbanization in Caracas.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
The inquiry commission pointed to comments Herzog made less than a week after Hamas militants killed and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis on October 7, 2023.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Black people, kidnapped and enslaved, had none, and as freedom was gained, new laws were written to hold them in place.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
The assault is the latest in escalating violence across northern Nigeria, where more than 150 Christians were kidnapped from churches in January.
—Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Though Abuja claims to be ramping up its campaign against radical militias, hundreds of people have been killed or kidnapped so far this year, underscoring the lawlessness that pervades swaths of the country.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
For example, when the toddler son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped, a piece of paper demanding $50,000 was found on a windowsill.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
When Gordon’s nephew, John Paul Getty III, was kidnapped in Italy in 1973, Bill was dispatched with the ransom (a story dramatized in the FX series Trust, with Harris Dickinson as John Paul Getty III).
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
Say Nothing tackles this divisive period of history through a number of perspectives, including reluctant IRA member Dolours Price (Lola Petticrew) and those involved in the disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of 10 who was kidnapped by the group and never seen alive again.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidnapped
Adjective
-
According to a criminal complaint, in December, the mother of the abducted girl had an unusual encounter with Bragg on Facebook.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In response to Amber's heart-wrenching case, a Texas mom named Diana Simone had the idea to create an emergency system for abducted children, similar to a weather or civil defense alert.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Too many companies remain trapped optimizing outdated growth systems designed for stability, predictability, and media scale rather than relevance, agility, and cultural fluency.—
Christopher Vollmer,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
If your water source contains a large percentage of minerals (hard water), the minerals become trapped in the fibers, leaving them feeling stiff.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidnapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidnapped. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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