1
as in hijacked
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in seized
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 commandeered
At one point, Neville even commandeered a bus to rescue herself and others from those horrors.
—
Janelle Griffith, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
As their escape car was almost out of gas and one of the tires had been shot out, the robbers commandeered another car, but the driver took the keys with him.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024
The wily Canuck was practically invisible for the first three weeks of the season, a victim of far flashier payers (cough, Rome, cough) that commandeered all the camera time.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
The company has since commandeered the AI boom, most famously through the release of ChatGPT.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
The rebels commandeered police headquarters and a number of military airports, along with several neighboring villages.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
That night, Jacquemus held an after-party on the Lady Adriana, a boat moored off the Capri coast, and on the shuttle bus to the docks and the speedboat bearing guests out to the vessel, a young fan in a sleeveless shirt commandeered the PA system to lead rabble-rousing cheers.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
How Hackers Took Control of Robot Vacuums The incidents primarily involved Ecovacs robot vacuums, which hackers commandeered to deliver offensive messages in homes.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
In late June, a rogue police officer commandeered a government helicopter and attacked the Supreme Court with gunfire and grenades.
—Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2017
Janelle Griffith, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
As their escape car was almost out of gas and one of the tires had been shot out, the robbers commandeered another car, but the driver took the keys with him.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024
The wily Canuck was practically invisible for the first three weeks of the season, a victim of far flashier payers (cough, Rome, cough) that commandeered all the camera time.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
The company has since commandeered the AI boom, most famously through the release of ChatGPT.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
The rebels commandeered police headquarters and a number of military airports, along with several neighboring villages.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
That night, Jacquemus held an after-party on the Lady Adriana, a boat moored off the Capri coast, and on the shuttle bus to the docks and the speedboat bearing guests out to the vessel, a young fan in a sleeveless shirt commandeered the PA system to lead rabble-rousing cheers.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
How Hackers Took Control of Robot Vacuums The incidents primarily involved Ecovacs robot vacuums, which hackers commandeered to deliver offensive messages in homes.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
In late June, a rogue police officer commandeered a government helicopter and attacked the Supreme Court with gunfire and grenades.
—Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
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Within a few days, pain had hijacked my mom’s entire identity.—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
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What’s up Space becomes the new battlefront — Hackers backing the Kremlin hijacked an orbiting satellite and beamed down footage from Russia’s Victory Day parade to Ukrainian televisions — as modern warfare moves to space.—
Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In addition, several firearms and drugs were seized from other residences, according to police.—
Jack Moore,
ABC News,
6 Sep. 2025
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Local, national and global media outlets this week seized on the opportunity to report Zuckerberg's lawsuit against Meta.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Houston Astros center fielder Taylor Trammell had his bat confiscated in the ninth inning of the team’s 8-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday at Daikin Park.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, 12-inch centipedes were also confiscated and the green mamba, which had been sick, died after the raid.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Smokey Bones locations bringing in less money will be converted into other brands the company owns, such as Twin Peaks lodges or sports bars, Boerema said.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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Initially powered by a water counterbalance system, it was soon converted to steam in 1886 and later electrified by 1915.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Resentment soon starts needling away at them as Theo goes over budget and Ivy feels her role as a mother has been usurped — the kids are now too health-conscious even to touch her desserts.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Aug. 2025
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Just as cable was usurped by fibre.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Twenty-four hours later, Ohtani entered the visiting clubhouse in Baltimore and grabbed his glove.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
During the argument, Martin grabbed a hammer from Lawson that Lawson had been using to repair a patio door and raised it above his head in a striking motion, Lawson said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Inevitably, different players have different routines, different responsibilities, different ways of keeping themselves occupied.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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His teammates marvel at it, their explanation for how a soon-to-be 36-year-old is still playing a game occupied primarily by athletes in their early 20s.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The writers’ allegations echoed dozens of other lawsuits brought by authors, news outlets, visual artists and others who say that tech companies stole their work to use in AI training.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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In December of that year, court records show that Bramble stole a City of Norwood Public Works pickup, fled from officers from at least two agencies and then tried to run away with a knife in his hand.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeered. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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