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

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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

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
  • That's because opening the comment section while watching Instagram Reels on the smaller cover screen causes the UI to hijack the entire display, completely hiding the video.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026
  • After proving his roster worth early on as a rookie, a shoulder injury hijacked his growth.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Definition of hijack
Verb
  • Now protesters are using that same platform to mock his administration, ridicule pro-government television news coverage, transform confrontation with police into viral content and seize control of the online narrative.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Investigators also seized boxes that had been resealed and were ready to ship, packages containing modeling clay instead of fragrance products, additional modeling clay, a heat gun, glue and packaging materials, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Two days after she was reported missing, Rivas Hernandez returned home and her parents confiscated her phone.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 25 July 2026
  • Prosecutors allege Burke later bought Rivas a secret phone and paid a classmate $1,000 to deliver it after her parents confiscated her previous device.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 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
  • And catcher Carter Jensen threw out James Outman, who was attempting to steal second in the fifth.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • Two of the biggest tech giants are locked in a head-to-head legal battle, with Apple claiming OpenAI stole trade secrets as the AI start-up plans its first hardware devices.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 23 July 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • At 18, accounts can convert to a Roth IRA, allowing tax-free growth and withdrawals for qualified uses like higher education or a first home.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • The rest are retrofits like my local theater — ordinary multiplex auditoriums Imax began converting in the mid-aughts, giving them somewhat bigger screens, upgraded sound, and hefty surcharges.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 25 July 2026
Definition of convert
Verb
  • Photos appear to show one such altercation, with a fan attempting to grab Preston from the sideline.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • And once the stars are out, the fire pits come to life, where kids of all ages can enjoy s’mores by grabbing a kit from the front desk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Two inspectors were escorted into The Club one night last year by homeowners who had targeted Airbnbs occupied by guests.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • According to Zirpolo, the barn-like structure housed a produce market more than 10 years ago, before Wood Creations Boutique occupied the space.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
Definition of occupy

Browse Nearby Words

commanded
commandeer
commandeered
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Cite this Entry

“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of commandeer for Spanish Speakers

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