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abduct

8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for abduct, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

carry off drag away run away with seize spirit away take away

Antonyms

How to use abduct

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

abduct a child abduct the arm

Etymology

From Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcō, "to lead away", from ab- ("away") and dūcō ("to lead").

Full origin of abduct →

Frequently asked questions

What does “abduct” mean?

The word “abduct” means to take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap. In plain terms, to forcibly take someone away, or, in medical language, to move a body part outward from the center of the body.

How do you pronounce “abduct”?

“Abduct” is pronounced ab-DUHKT (/æbˈdʌkt/ in IPA).

How do you use “abduct” in a sentence?

Here is “abduct” used in a sentence: “Police believe the child was abducted on his way home from school.”

What is another word for “abduct”?

Words with a similar meaning to “abduct” include carry off, drag away, kidnap, run away with, seize and spirit away.

What is the opposite of “abduct”?

The opposite of “abduct” — its antonyms — are adduct, reinstate and restore.

What part of speech is “abduct”?

“Abduct” is a verb.

Where does the word “abduct” come from?

The word “abduct” comes from Latin. From Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcō, "to lead away", from ab- ("away") and dūcō ("to lead").

How many meanings does “abduct” have?

“Abduct” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.