1
as in to hijack
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
commandeered all of the equipment, as if the chem lab belonged solely to him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commandeer
As the trio of governors repeatedly noted, civil immigration enforcement by law and longtime legal precedent is exclusively a federal function, and constitutional separation of powers principles dictate that the feds can’t commandeer state officials to advance their own federal enforcement efforts.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
After thousands of terrorists invaded Israel and committed mass atrocities, Hamas continued to commandeer aid, creating and taking advantage of a black market.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2025
But to be clear, state and local law enforcement cannot be commandeered to enforce federal civil immigration laws and (be) taken away from fighting crime.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Or commandeer one of the eight patio or lawn tables.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
After thousands of terrorists invaded Israel and committed mass atrocities, Hamas continued to commandeer aid, creating and taking advantage of a black market.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2025
But to be clear, state and local law enforcement cannot be commandeered to enforce federal civil immigration laws and (be) taken away from fighting crime.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Or commandeer one of the eight patio or lawn tables.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
Verb
-
Multiple national park advocacy groups, including some comprised of current and former NPS employees, have called for the public to hijack the government’s initiative by posting comments in support of national parks and their employees.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But most user applications don't have kernel access specifically because a buggy app (or one hijacked by malware) with kernel access can bring the entire system down rather than just affecting the app.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
In 2024, the DEA seized more than 60 million counterfeit pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder nationwide — enough to deliver more than 380 million lethal doses.—
Mark Michalek,
Denver Post,
28 June 2025
-
Speakers at the conference, aimed at helping Republicans hold the House and Senate, seized on Mamdani’s win as a symbol of the Democratic Party’s hard-left turn, using it to paint the entire party with the same brush.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The Pennsylvania State Game Commission confiscated the wildcats as part of an ongoing investigation.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
-
Police would have the power to ticket, impound vehicles, confiscate personal property, revoke licenses and levy heavy fines.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
The administration hailed the ruling as a monumental check on the powers of individual district court judges, whom Trump supporters have argued want to usurp the president’s authority with rulings blocking his priorities around immigration and other matters.—
Tim Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2025
-
The administration hailed the ruling as a monumental check on the powers of individual district court judges, whom Trump supporters have argued are usurping the president’s authority with rulings blocking his priorities on immigration and other matters.—
Tim Sullivan,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
And like the most recent case out of Iowa, stealing someone else’s flag to burn could also be criminal, the organization said.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
-
Also starring Clooney in a leading role, The Monuments Men tells the true story of a group of museum curators, art historians and architects tasked with an unlikely mission: tracking down and recovering priceless works of art stolen by the Nazis before they’re destroyed forever.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
There, stairs lead up to a second floor that can be used for storage or converted into additional space for guests.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
-
For example, lead scoring is a great starting point: AI can quickly sort through historical data to highlight which leads are most likely to convert.—
David Kelley,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Watching robots like Barb and Peter grab your order in just seconds is pretty impressive, but what's even more remarkable is that this technology is already making shopping quicker, safer, and a whole lot easier.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
-
My father seemed to crumple a little, shuddering, grabbing the edge of his desk to steady himself.—
Ottessa Moshfegh,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
These words, which fill a popular meme set against the profile of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., occupy our thoughts.—
Michael Pfleger,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
-
Andy Robertson has occupied that position in the Liverpool lineup for the last eight years.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share