Definition of abductnext
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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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 abduct When his young son is ostensibly abducted for ransom on Halloween night, Mark must confess his financial ruin to his therapist wife, Abigail (Washington), who has actually been having an ongoing affair with a coworker. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026 Hughes will likely be filling in while Watch Commander Tim Bradford is abducted. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for abduct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduct
kidnap
Verb
  • When her sister was kidnapped and murdered by her ex-husband in 2020, Banda retreated from religion.
    — Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The man on the line claimed a Mexican drug cartel had kidnapped her 37-year-old daughter.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Abduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abduct. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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