abduction

noun

ab-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce abduction (audio)
Definition of abductionnext
as in kidnapping
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal discredited reports of abductions by aliens

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 abduction Related Stories The frightening aspect of the abduction scene was one of the most complex things to capture. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Evonitz kept newspaper clippings about their abductions in a locker in his apartment, and authorities later found both fingerprint and DNA evidence connecting him to the crimes, The Washington Post reported. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026 In this week’s issue, Taub writes about living in such a fraught place, his encounters with jihadis, spies, con men, and fledgling reporters trying to prove themselves, and his brush with a possible abduction attempt. — Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026 Williams had allegedly conspired with three other individuals to fake his own abduction alongside hers, according to local reports of the incident. — Breaking News, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abduction
  1. kidnapping
  2. rape
Noun
  • Haiti’s government described the incident as a kidnapping and said the search for the technicians was its top priority.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators say that surveillance video of the kidnapping shows a man wearing black gloves getting out of the same vehicle.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of kidnapping
Noun
  • The twins also face two pending rape cases in Florida state court.
    — Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rape

Browse Nearby Words

abducting
abduction
abductions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on abduction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about abduction

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All