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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Recent Examples of commandeered
The washer and dryer were commandeered as beer coolers and Melanie’s special mix tape was blasting over the house stereo.
—
Dustin Timbrook, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Not to mention, Pinterest predicts cool blue will be the new millennial pink (Sabrina Carpenter’s already commandeered the shade on and off stage, with Hailey Bieber closely following in some of her streetwear looks).
—Irene Richardson, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
In 2024, the gang commandeered several apartment buildings in Aurora, making national headlines as violent criminals held the complexes for ransom.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, the Potomac franchise does not exist in reality but instead is a mildly dystopian parallel universe commandeered by the chaotic whims of Big Sister General Gizelle Bryant; therefore, Angel being a general pill doesn’t suffice as a legitimate reason to take issue with her.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Inside, the main floor has been commandeered by a mishmash of cash-only Asian food stalls, which gives it the feel of a makeshift street market.
—Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
Speaker Joseph Cannon, a Republican who ascended to the position in 1903, commandeered the powerful Rules Committee, which allowed speakers to control not only which legislation received a vote but even the amending and voting process.
—Sorelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
Copeland matched the walls to the existing trim color to brighten the spot even further, creating a serene ambience—that is, when Frank’s three daughters haven’t commandeered it.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
In San José, however, local green spaces have been commandeered by the unhoused, with camps that have developed into villages, especially along the Guadalupe River, where the Crash Zone was located, and its tributaries.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Dustin Timbrook, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Not to mention, Pinterest predicts cool blue will be the new millennial pink (Sabrina Carpenter’s already commandeered the shade on and off stage, with Hailey Bieber closely following in some of her streetwear looks).
—Irene Richardson, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
In 2024, the gang commandeered several apartment buildings in Aurora, making national headlines as violent criminals held the complexes for ransom.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, the Potomac franchise does not exist in reality but instead is a mildly dystopian parallel universe commandeered by the chaotic whims of Big Sister General Gizelle Bryant; therefore, Angel being a general pill doesn’t suffice as a legitimate reason to take issue with her.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Inside, the main floor has been commandeered by a mishmash of cash-only Asian food stalls, which gives it the feel of a makeshift street market.
—Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
Speaker Joseph Cannon, a Republican who ascended to the position in 1903, commandeered the powerful Rules Committee, which allowed speakers to control not only which legislation received a vote but even the amending and voting process.
—Sorelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
Copeland matched the walls to the existing trim color to brighten the spot even further, creating a serene ambience—that is, when Frank’s three daughters haven’t commandeered it.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
In San José, however, local green spaces have been commandeered by the unhoused, with camps that have developed into villages, especially along the Guadalupe River, where the Crash Zone was located, and its tributaries.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
-
After the Moonraker Space Shuttle is hijacked midair from an aircraft carrier, Bond is sent to investigate.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Tracy Anderson believes most people today have had their attention spans hijacked by social media and their perception of beauty corrupted by trends.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
How populists named what the centre wouldn't Marine Le Pen seized on the contradiction immediately.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
During the search, authorities seized two rifles, two shotguns and one handgun, along with ammunition, prosecutors said.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
French authorities confiscated the cocaine.—
Jay Weaver
January 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
While raising the kids together, Ruby and Hildebrandt abused the two youngest children with harsh punishments and torture, according to Ruby's journal that was later confiscated.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Guard Kylie Ray converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the final minute to lead the Toreros to a 69-60 victory over Loyola Marymount in a West Coast Conference game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Denver barely won because the Bills converted 11 of 16 attempts on third and fourth down.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And though preseason predictions pegged Marty Supreme as Gwyneth Paltrow’s big Oscar comeback, Odessa A’zion’s performance as a girlfriend with gumption has usurped the Goopster’s buzz.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has usurped Capitol Hill's Constitutional powers on spending money and waging war.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Baer grabbed the arms of his chair and began to stand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
It was rapidly removed, but an image of the listing was grabbed ahead of that.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And yet, is such a reclamation even possible after one has been annexed or occupied?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The company appears to be eyeing up the market currently occupied by Sonos and has its own ecosystem with a range of wireless speakers and streamers offering the same kind of convenience as Sonos but at more competitive prices.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The sentencing follows a year in which mostly Chinese scammers stole a record $17 billion from regular people.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
What settler stole this sacred land and is now charging me for these healing waters?—
Gaby Iori
January 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commandeered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeered. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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