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
There is a First World War U-boat that somehow glides from underneath Lake Michigan all the way to Croatia, commandeered by its captain, post-Armistice, for new and clandestine uses.
—
Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
After the war, the Allies commandeered Volkswagen production and got the show back on the road in 1945.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
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
Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
After the war, the Allies commandeered Volkswagen production and got the show back on the road in 1945.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
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Somewhere along the way, it was hijacked — people turned into export cargo.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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What about plain-Jane organic sheep who’ve been hijacked by a grapefruit-size eyeball with tentacles?—
Chris Klimek,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The good vibes, the kudos, the opportunities seized.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The boost would be short-lived, as the Shamrocks seized the momentum back with a strong defensive response and took possession over at the Spartans’ 29-yard line.—
Erik Anderson,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Exxon was the first American company to sue Cuban state companies, Cimex and Unión Cuba-Petróleo in 2019, for the exploitation of service stations confiscated by the Cuban government.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In this exclusive clip, the sisters encounter one of the magical objects their ancestor confiscated.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Schlittler grew up a Red Sox fan but said his family has fully converted to being Yankees fans since the team drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Rain-fed fields in arid areas that had relied on dry farming for centuries were converted to water-intensive farms growing rice, and alfalfa.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The news comes as the Cybertruck was recently usurped from its position as America's best-selling electric pickup truck in the first quarter of 2025.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
14 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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The incident occurred near 87th Avenue and Van Buren Street when a man grabbed a girl by the arm.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Riddle then grabbed Quirke by the collar and threw him down onto a table before walking off the set with a TMZ championship belt.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trammell soon occupied the White House on Homeland (2020), played sleazy blues bandleader Ben on This Is Us (2016–2017), and took the lead on Reckoning (2019–2020).—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
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Four additional dogs were found in another room that was occupied by both Millers, who are married, according to the release.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yes, Gein dug up graves and stole body parts.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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Swift stole Smashing Machine‘s Dolby Cinemas.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeered. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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