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
President Trump commandeered 2,000 members of California’s National Guard and placed them under federal control, bypassing the opposition of state leaders, and then sent another 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the greater Los Angeles area.
—
Bora Erden, New York Times, 13 June 2025
The Administration wants to commandeer local police officers as federal ICE agents while strong-arming local officials with threats of withholding federal funds.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
But in February, the rock titans will commandeer the 4,100-capacity Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for a dozen shows.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 21 July 2025
Members of the White Helmets had commandeered the kitchen for festivities.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Bora Erden, New York Times, 13 June 2025
The Administration wants to commandeer local police officers as federal ICE agents while strong-arming local officials with threats of withholding federal funds.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
But in February, the rock titans will commandeer the 4,100-capacity Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for a dozen shows.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 21 July 2025
Members of the White Helmets had commandeered the kitchen for festivities.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
Verb
-
They were all affiliated with al Qaeda and hijacked four jets.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Using malware to hijack the registration process is something altogether different.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In total, authorities seized about $3.7 million in Home Depot property, as well as $800,000 in cash.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Suddenly, the Thursday Murder Club seizes an opportunity and leaps from the cold case realm into a very hot murder investigation.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Dude confiscated it for greenbacks, melted it down, and buried it?—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
The artist Gao Zhen, famous for his depictions of Mao Zedong, the Communist regime’s founder, was detained last year, and the authorities confiscated several of his works that had been created more than a decade earlier.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But there are fears that the technology will usurp opportunities for people looking to break into the field.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Resources are available for businesses looking to usurp restrictions.—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
His family hid in the woods, sleeping in tents made of pine needles and stealing vegetables from nearby farms.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Engage In Reflective Thinking Summer is the perfect time to steal away to a quiet, shady spot and do some of the reflective thinking that supports a successful life.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity.—
Gaelle Legrand,
CNBC,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Through fusion, which takes place at the center of the star where the temperature and density are the highest, hydrogen is converted into helium to create the outer layers of the onion structure.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And since Birkenstocks almost never go on sale, this is the time to grab a pair before the season shifts.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Aug. 2025
-
When the fatigue threshold is hit, a generative AI model can automatically suggest a range of alternative creatives, using insights from predictive models to determine which assets are most likely to grab attention.—
Sergii Denysenko,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The hotel is seeking to demolish the Odd Fellows Building, built in 1897, and an adjacent one-story garage that currently occupy the site at 211, 213 and 215 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Russian forces now occupy the villages of Zaporizke and Novoheorhiivka, according to DeepState, a group tracking battlefield developments.—
Svitlana Vlasova,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share