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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commandeered
In 2021, hackers commandeered 150,000 remote cameras, including in schools, police departments, jails and health clinics.
—
Srinivas Shekar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Srinivas Shekar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
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Nearly 3,000 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC, and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after 19 al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four US commercial airplanes bound for West Coast destinations.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Terrorists associated with the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four planes.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
11 Sep. 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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However, biofuel production might turn this pathway into a tool for renewable energy, since fats can be converted into fuel.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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It is being converted from a helicopter carrier and is scheduled to complete all modifications in 2028 to operate F-35B fighter jets, the same type as those on the Prince of Wales.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Team Cherry The Pale King usurped the ruling deity, the Radiance, a god of light who shines in contrast to the Abyss, a primordial force of darkness that is represented by Void.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Mamoru Hosoda’s anime riff on Hamlet gives us a princess of Denmark hell-bent on killing the uncle who usurped the crown from her beloved dad.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One partygoer grabbed a fragrance and practically bathed in the smokey orange accords of Rendez-Vous Ivory.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 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 13 Sep. 2025.
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