ABDUCT Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

abduct

verb

ab-ˈdəkt

Definition of abduct

as in to kidnap

to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully the gangsters planned to abduct the industrialist's young daughter and demand a huge ransom from her family

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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 abduct According to accounts of the case, Downey was abducted after Hindley asked her to help carry packages to a car. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 When her young charge is abducted on Halloween, a science-minded babysitter (Tamara Smart) and her reluctant guide (Oona Laurence) face down the Boogeyman (Tom Felton) and his hench-creatures to save him. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2026 The Ziyadnes are among 40 hostages taken into Gaza alive who were killed or died in captivity, roughly one in five of the 206 abducted alive. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Detectives tied all this back to a shooting in North Miami around midnight at an apartment complex at 14040 Biscayne Blvd, where deputies say Bethune was abducted. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abduct

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduct

kidnap

Verb

Earlier this summer, a gang had massacred at least 47 residents and kidnapped dozens more in the town of Kenscoff, on the main southern route out of the capital.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Determined to win her back, Ralph devises a crazy plan involving kidnapping the former child star of his favorite Christmas movie.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of kidnap

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abdomens

abduct

abducted

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“Abduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduct. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of abduct

verb

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