What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abduct
Example
The police were able to rescue the abductee from the kidnappers. [abductee: noun]
Example
The aliens abducted the farmer and took him to their spaceship. [abducted: past tense]
seize
Example
The police seized the drugs and arrested the dealer. [seized: past tense]
Example
I had to seize the opportunity to buy the concert tickets before they sold out. [seize: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Seize is more commonly used than abduct in everyday language. Seize is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while abduct is less common and typically associated with criminal or sensationalist news stories.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between abduct and seize?
Both abduct and seize are formal words that are typically used in serious or legal contexts. However, abduct is more strongly associated with criminal activity and may be considered more informal in certain contexts.