commandeer

verb

ˌkä-mən-ˈdir How to pronounce commandeer (audio)
Definition of commandeernext
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 Both the Russian and Chinese governments have been compromising routers for years, sometimes in prolonged tugs-of-war to wrest control of devices the other has already commandeered. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 As the actor who originated the role, Johnson fares a bit better as Maui, smirking and preening and repeatedly tossing Moana off her own boat in attempts to commandeer it for himself. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 July 2026 An exciting scene ramps up the action as Castle commandeers a German tank and drives it over a cliff. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 June 2026 The event was so popular that the crowd spilled into the place next door, and in a restaurant called Amber, the sound system was commandeered. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
  1. hijack
  2. seize
  3. confiscate
  4. usurp
  5. steal
  6. convert
  7. grab
  8. occupy
Verb
  • For locomotion, researchers insert tiny electrodes directly into the cockroach's antennae to hijack its natural obstacle-avoidance behavior.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • The side walls engage your peripheral vision without hijacking your attention.
    — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of hijack
Verb
  • Trump has also mused about taking control of the strait by force, possibly by seizing one or more strategic islands held by Iran.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • The goal was limited to driving out the Iraqi troops who'd seized Kuwait.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 18 July 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Romanian authorities indicted the Tate brothers on the charges in June 2023, placing them on house arrest and confiscating several of their assets.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • The lawsuit alleges that Sheriff Robert Luna failed to confiscate Giandomenico’s phone after learning of the photos and tried to conceal from Nancy Lemus that the images existed.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of confiscate
Verb
  • When talkies usurped silent films, in the late 1920s, theaters scrambled to adapt to a new, squatter format.
    — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
  • The update indicated that Maersk is set to fall behind CMA CGM for second-largest container shipping capacity worldwide by July 2027, while Hapag-Lloyd could be usurped by Ocean Network Express (ONE) in February 2028.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of usurp
Verb
  • Henderson, who was identified by witnesses as a former employee of the restaurant, is accused of serving as Child’s getaway driver, using a maroon pickup that was recently reported stolen in Canyon County, police said.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • He was expelled from Congress while facing criminal charges over stealing from donors and his campaign, fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits and lying to Congress about his wealth.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • Despite missing only two greens in regulation, Scheffler failed to convert five putts from inside 15 feet.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Both could have added to their tallies by converting penalties over the past five weeks, but Messi has missed two during this World Cup and Mbappe one.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of convert
Verb
  • Paredes was quickly on the scene, grabbing Garcia briefly by the throat and shoving him to the floor.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • If relaxing is more your speed, grab a glass of Chablis, settle into an Adirondack chair with a good book, and watch the sunlight dance across the lily pads.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • That convergence is drawing together businesses that once occupied separate corners of the market, from consumer staples companies selling food to biotech firms developing medicines and veterinary providers offering increasingly sophisticated care.
    — Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • Swanson was occupied with the training staff after the game and was unavailable for comment.
    — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Definition of occupy

Browse Nearby Words

commanded
commandeer
commandeered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on commandeer

Nglish: Translation of commandeer for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All