kidnap Hear it!

kidnap Definition

kid·nap (kidnap′)

transitive verb -·napped′ or -·naped′, -·nap′·ping or -·nap′·ing

  1. to steal (a child)
  2. to seize and hold or carry off (a person) against that person's will, by force or fraud, often for ransom

Etymology: kid, + dial. nap: see nab

kidnap Related Forms

kid·nap′·per noun or kid·nap′er

kidnap Synonyms

kidnap

v.

abduct, seize, take hostage, carry off, carry away, hold for ransom, ravish, capture, steal, rape, waylay, shanghai, make off with, make away with, grab, remove, lay hands on, put under duress, impress, spirit away, snatch*, pirate*, bundle off*; see also seize 2.

Antonyms ransom, rescue*, release.

kidnap Usage Examples

Used with why or when

when: Or the woman who was stripped naked in the street and kidnaped when she refused to give up her car?

Object

  • princess: Mario and Princess Peach are having a walk when suddenly Bowser Jr. kidnaps the princess while Mario is distracted.
  • soldier: The Israeli soldier kidnaped on 25 June has not been returned.
  • daughter: The intro sees your daughter kidnaped by beasties who then experiment with you.
  • imprisonment: The other man and woman, both British nationals from Clapham, have been charged with kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail.
  • gang: Only trouble was, the Police never charged the so called vicious kidnap gang.
  • victim: Like burgers, kidnap victims have to be dealt with fast.

Subject

  • bandit: Soon enough, they are kidnaped by desert bandits.
  • pirate: When he was about fifteen years old, he was kidnaped by Irish pirates and reduced to slavery to tend herds for six years.
  • alien: I was kidnaped by space aliens, says weblogger.
  • gang: The story revolves around Taniguchi, a Tokyo businessman whose son is kidnaped by a gang of indoctrinated street thugs.
  • terrorist: July 28: An Israeli soldier who had been kidnaped by terrorists was found murdered.. .

Modifying Another Word

then: T-Bag would then kidnap Thomas from the shop, she would then put a spell on him to put him in her power.

Followed by an intransitive particle

along: Take the case of Ken Bigley who was kidnaped along with two Americans a week ago.

Preposition: at

gunpoint: Unknown to Bains, Hart and her daughter are less than five miles away, kidnaped at gunpoint and struggling to stay alive.

Preposition: by

  • bandit: Soon enough, they are kidnaped by desert bandits.
  • pirate: When he was about fifteen years old, he was kidnaped by Irish pirates and reduced to slavery to tend herds for six years.
  • alien: I was kidnaped by space aliens, says weblogger.
  • gang: The story revolves around Taniguchi, a Tokyo businessman whose son is kidnaped by a gang of indoctrinated street thugs.
  • terrorist: July 28: An Israeli soldier who had been kidnaped by terrorists was found murdered.. .

Browse dictionary entries near kidnap

  1. kiddush
  2. kiddo
  3. kiddish
  4. kiddie
  5. Kidderminster
  6. Kidd
  7. kid stuff
  8. kid gloves
  9. kid
  10. kicky
  1. kidnapped
  2. kidnapper
  3. kidnapping
  4. kidney
  5. kidney bean
  6. kidney stone
  7. Kidron
  8. kidskin
  9. Kiel
  10. Kiel Canal