1
as in to hijack
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of commandeer
But renewable technology, coupled with electrification, is ready for prime time and has now commandeered a starring role.
—
Kathleen Biggins, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t going to allow New York’s celebrity row to commandeer their Rocket Arena courtside seats in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 26 May 2026
During the Brooks-Baxter War, the club's quarters were commandeered by armed guards of the Joseph Brooks faction, who locked the members out and then used the facility as a military hospital.
—Arkansas Online, 23 May 2026
Antwaun Sargent commandeered the Gagosian booth, which has a pleasantly group show-y feel, with a nice moment featuring a Theaster Gates sculpture flanked by a Stanley Whitney painting and a Tyler Mitchell photograph.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Kathleen Biggins, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t going to allow New York’s celebrity row to commandeer their Rocket Arena courtside seats in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 26 May 2026
During the Brooks-Baxter War, the club's quarters were commandeered by armed guards of the Joseph Brooks faction, who locked the members out and then used the facility as a military hospital.
—Arkansas Online, 23 May 2026
Antwaun Sargent commandeered the Gagosian booth, which has a pleasantly group show-y feel, with a nice moment featuring a Theaster Gates sculpture flanked by a Stanley Whitney painting and a Tyler Mitchell photograph.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
Verb
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To stage the season-three premiere of the series formerly known as Interview With the Vampire — now, in character-appropriate fashion, hijacked and renamed The Vampire Lestat — AMC turned the screening into a tour stop for the character played by Sam Reid.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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Britain’s far-right has a history of hijacking incidents like this to use as fuel for their own narratives.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
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For Portugal’s Vitinha, 26, Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and Norway’s Haaland, both 25, and France’s Michael Olise, 24, there might be no better opportunity to seize.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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The Spurs made 14 3-pointers, a Finals record for one half, to seize control of this game in a stunning display of shot-making and poise.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Local residents and business owners said Israeli forces had later returned to the area and confiscated all CCTV recordings.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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But any noise-making devices such as vuvuzelas, air horns and whistles will be confiscated.—
Laurence Miedema,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in March upheld a complaint by Ukraine that Russia’s chess federation had usurped control of the game in areas of Ukraine captured by the Russian military.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
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The two are separate, Bourne writes, even if, in war, the state tries to usurp the country and speak for it.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Oswald Peraza led off the third with a double, and Nick Madrigal drove him in with a two-out single before stealing second and scoring on Logan O’Hoppe’s single for a 4-0 advantage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
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Instead of asking for an iPhone passcode, a scammer may send a fake Google, Find My Device, Find Hub, Samsung Find or carrier message after your Android phone is stolen.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Powered entirely by sunlight, the system simultaneously transforms carbon dioxide into a valuable chemical while converting biomass waste into the essential building blocks for sustainable plastics.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
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Both men have been arraigned in 37th District Court in Warren with nine charges each of weapons – firearms – devices to convert semiautomatic to automatic, along with one charge each of weapons – felony firearm, the sheriff's office said.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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There’s plenty to see and do on this one street—stop by Colonial Park Cemetery, established in 1750; the Juliet Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, honoring the founder of the Girl Scouts; then grab a bite at Marbled & Fin, where luxe appetizers and aged steaks reign supreme.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
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After Corbin made his introduction to the Islanders as a whole back at the fire pit, Melanie was the first to grab him for a chat.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
Verb
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About Acqualina Resort Conveniently located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Acqualina Resort occupies 5 oceanfront acres in Sunny Isles, a town known for its wide sandy beaches, luxury shopping, and international atmosphere.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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Many lead institutions that are more than a century old yet are the first women ever to occupy the top role.—
Sam Birchall,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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