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
Booker's grand gesture thrust him — and the Democratic Party — into the national spotlight, amassing hundreds of thousands of livestream views at a time when Trump's zone-flooding style has commandeered nearly every news cycle.
—
Avery Lotz, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
Santa Clara County and San Francisco argued in the lawsuit that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and commandeering local law enforcement distracts from local issues.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
There are also Supreme Court precedents that restrict the federal government from imposing conditions on grants that are unrelated to the purpose of those grants, or otherwise commandeering state governments to perform a federal government task.
—Francesca Paris, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Each show will include a one-hour finale commandeered by a surprise guest DJ – a popular staple in Las Vegas.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Avery Lotz, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
Santa Clara County and San Francisco argued in the lawsuit that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and commandeering local law enforcement distracts from local issues.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
There are also Supreme Court precedents that restrict the federal government from imposing conditions on grants that are unrelated to the purpose of those grants, or otherwise commandeering state governments to perform a federal government task.
—Francesca Paris, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Each show will include a one-hour finale commandeered by a surprise guest DJ – a popular staple in Las Vegas.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
Verb
-
While the Ghor rebels are hijacking an imperial supply vehicle — in order to reveal to the galaxy that the Empire is lying about its intentions for the planet — Kleya is at a fancy party, trying to remove one of her listening devices from an antique artifact in an aristocrat’s personal gallery.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Without a clear framework, machine identities can be hijacked, impersonated, or manipulated at scale, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security systems unnoticed.—
Sol Rashidi,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The White House, with Vice President JD Vance’s experience in tech, should seize this moment to build a national AI strategy that does not leave the workers behind.—
Lynn Forester de Rothschild,
Time,
11 May 2025
-
This time, the case moved forward alongside multiple simultaneous investigations and cases in other states, and in 2018, the federal government seized Backpage and it was taken down.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
Our families could be dishonored in public, our personal memories confiscated for storage inside the Criminal Archives.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 May 2025
-
But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Wing-backs James McClean and Ryan Barnett were first choice for much of the campaign before January arrival Ryan Longman eventually usurped Barnett down the right flank.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
-
After years of gradually usurping many forms of legacy media, podcasts are set to get their flowers on one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 May 2025
Verb
-
Mike gets into a brawl when Nathan (Dickinson, uncredited), a fellow addict also living rough, steals his wallet and blows all his cash.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
-
Trailing in the second inning, Alexis Ramirez reached base on a hit up the middle, then stole second.—
Anthony De Leon,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
Verb
-
Last March, Jost and Davidson’s business partner Ron Castellano noted that their plans are still underway for a potentially $34 million project to convert the vessel into a floating entertainment complex complete with bars, restaurants and possibly a hotel.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
3 May 2025
-
What started as a project to convert a collection of warehouses owned by the Alserkal family into art galleries has become a vibrant art district that hosted some of the most talked about cultural events during their Alserkal Art Week, which ran just before Art Dubai.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
-
The Pineapple Express actress allegedly grabbed and struck van Ree's arm in an altercation at a Seattle airport.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Additionally, a complaint filed against Radford on April 4 and obtained by PEOPLE alleges that the company continued to occupy its headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
12 May 2025
-
The Filipino male vocal troupe is the only non-solo musical act to occupy more than one position.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share