abduction
2 synonyms and 6 antonyms for abduction, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The crime of taking a person away by force or deception, typically to hold them against their will.
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
How to use abduction
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin abductio, "a leading away," from ab- ("away") + ducere ("to lead") — the same root that gives us "conduct" and "duct."
Full origin of abduction →Frequently asked questions
What does “abduction” mean?
The word “abduction” means the crime of taking a person away by force or deception, typically to hold them against their will. In plain terms, taking someone away by force — kidnapping. In anatomy, it means moving a body part away from the center line of the body.
How do you pronounce “abduction”?
“Abduction” is pronounced uhb-DUHK-shn (/æbˈdʌk.ʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “abduction” in a sentence?
Here is “abduction” used in a sentence: “Police treated the missing teenager's case as a possible abduction.”
What is another word for “abduction”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abduction” include retroduction and abstraction.
What is the opposite of “abduction”?
The opposite of “abduction” — its antonyms — are adduction, replacement, restitution, restoration and surrender.
What part of speech is “abduction”?
“Abduction” is a noun.
Where does the word “abduction” come from?
The word “abduction” comes from Latin. From Latin abductio, "a leading away," from ab- ("away") + ducere ("to lead") — the same root that gives us "conduct" and "duct.".
Is “abduction” a common word?
“Abduction” is an uncommon word in modern English.