as in takeover
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority
the Spanish navy's commandeering of fishing boats and impressment of fishermen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in hijacking
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in seizing
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 commandeering
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
She was accused of commandeering a car owned by a neighbor and former friend and then driving it into the woman, according to court papers.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Rita Ora once again returns as co-host alongside Seacrest, who’s marking his 20th year commandeering the holiday staple.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Companies got creative when shipping costs skyrocketed, placing orders directly with factories to cut out intermediaries or commandeering their own container ships and planes to ensure timely delivery.
—Shannon K. O'Neil, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2021
Verb
View 3 Images By commandeering smart thermostats and water heaters and sipping power from in-home EV chargers, virtual power plants are being formed across the country.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
She was accused of commandeering a car owned by a neighbor and former friend and then driving it into the woman, according to court papers.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Rita Ora once again returns as co-host alongside Seacrest, who’s marking his 20th year commandeering the holiday staple.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Companies got creative when shipping costs skyrocketed, placing orders directly with factories to cut out intermediaries or commandeering their own container ships and planes to ensure timely delivery.
—Shannon K. O'Neil, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeering
Noun
-
Performance Food Group — Shares rallied 8% after Bloomberg News reported , citing people familiar with the matter, that U.S. Foods is considering a takeover of the food distributor.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
-
Other recent takeovers have included Blue Bunny ice cream parent Wells Enterprises and the U.S. confectionery business of Nestlé.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Pretending to be dead, Gi-hun and his friends launch a surprise attack, overpowering the guards and seizing their weapons, leaving only one guard alive.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
-
Individuals are seizing opportunities as well.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The charges arose from what law enforcement officials described as a nationwide operation that also resulted in the seizure of financial accounts, websites and laptops that were used to carry out the fraud.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
-
This incident marks the third seizure of live animals in Mumbai in one month, according to CBS.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
The original text of the Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act called for the NASA administrator and the Smithsonian to jointly develop a plan for moving Discovery prior to appropriations being made by Congress.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 July 2025
-
The new $5 million appropriation from the state is meant to enable UCSD to introduce a public health program at Southwestern as early as next year.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Miley has taken a leaner approach the past few years, only grabbing one jersey and leaving the rest in his locker for the clubhouse workers to donate or disperse.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The Ravens believe in drafting corners every year, and the first-round selection of Nate Wiggins in 2024 won’t prevent them from grabbing another cornerback early.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately, mid-rehearsal, their mother, Rose (an absolutely magnificent McDonald), comes thundering onto the stage, usurping Jocko’s leadership and sucking up all of the air into the room.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
20 Dec. 2024
-
For instance, one of his first actions was to fund the Al-Jazeera Arabic satellite television station, allowing Qatar to set the agenda on TV screens from Casablanca to Cairo, usurping the role once played by state information ministries.—
Allen Fromherz / Made by History,
TIME,
30 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Yes, Israel as an occupying power does not have that right to self-defense.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
-
City sit fourth in the WSL, seven points off Champions League qualification with Manchester United occupying third place.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeering. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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