What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abduct
Example
The child was abducted from the playground. [abducted: past tense]
Example
The aliens abducted the cows for their experiments. [abduct: verb]
kidnap
Example
The businessman was kidnapped and held for ransom. [kidnapped: past tense]
Example
The rebels kidnapped the politician's daughter to make a political statement. [kidnap: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Kidnap is more commonly used than abduct in everyday language and legal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between abduct and kidnap?
Kidnap is generally considered more formal than abduct due to its use in legal contexts.
