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
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
According to the board, the measure prohibits any entity from commandeering city property that disrupts the city's operations.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
This is precisely the type of coercion and commandeering that violates the 10th Amendment.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2026
The crux of the coalition’s argument is that the immigration operation in Minnesota constitutes a violation of the Tenth Amendment, which protects the sovereignty of states and bars the federal government from commandeering state and local resources for federal purposes.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
In another way, this is about a coach commandeering a program and rebuilding it the old-fashioned way.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Jan. 2026
In that first game, Jokic was seen commandeering the whiteboard to draw up a play in a timeout.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Another solution is to manipulate the game with your mind versus commandeering physically.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
That set off a flurry of diplomatic efforts among European leaders, outraged at the thought of the White House commandeering assets in their custody.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Verb
After commandeering the offense with shot volume in recent games, Edwards played a real floor game to get his teammates involved.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
According to the board, the measure prohibits any entity from commandeering city property that disrupts the city's operations.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
This is precisely the type of coercion and commandeering that violates the 10th Amendment.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2026
The crux of the coalition’s argument is that the immigration operation in Minnesota constitutes a violation of the Tenth Amendment, which protects the sovereignty of states and bars the federal government from commandeering state and local resources for federal purposes.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
In another way, this is about a coach commandeering a program and rebuilding it the old-fashioned way.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Jan. 2026
In that first game, Jokic was seen commandeering the whiteboard to draw up a play in a timeout.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Another solution is to manipulate the game with your mind versus commandeering physically.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
That set off a flurry of diplomatic efforts among European leaders, outraged at the thought of the White House commandeering assets in their custody.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeering
Noun
-
If the digital nouveau riche have sufficient discretionary income to unseat the coupon-clipping linear-TV gang, all that outsized buying power may not necessarily translate to a full-on tech takeover.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines of Denver, a frequent but unsuccessful takeover suitor of Spirit Airlines, intends to add daily service to Dulles International Airport outside of Washington starting May 21, the company announced this week.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The goal is to stop scammers from hijacking accounts through tricks like fake talent competitions or misleading QR codes.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
For example, a standout sequence in which Mabel’s attempts to communicate with Jerry via text-to-speech on her phone are derailed by George and the other animals hijacking it while discovering emojis is a riot, and only works because each of the characters is immediately understandable.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even after seizing a wanted dictator out of Venezuela and while monitoring an air war in Iran.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But seizing it will require more than capital and talent.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In comparing department data from 2024 to 2025, Chamberlain said APD has recorded a 197% increase in fentanyl seizures, more than 600% increase in heroin seizures, a nearly 930% spike in the seizure of meth and an almost 80% increase in drug arrests.—
Kelly Werthmann,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
That specter continues to reverberate through that first Chiefs Super Bowl roster, from which 12 had died by their early 70s, suffering from such issues as cancer, heart problems, seizures and various forms of dementia.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Video of the incident shows a CBP officer confiscating the handgun shortly before other agents shot Pretti multiple times, killing him.—
Paul Kiefer,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The appropriation, which came as part of the President’s domestic-spending bill, has kept ICE flush with cash during the shutdown.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Following the longest federal shutdown in the country’s history last year, Congress completed work on 11 of this year’s 12 appropriations bills.—
Kevin Freking,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
He would ultimately be arrested and convicted of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy, stealing as much as $10 billion from customers.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Mug shots over an 8-year period for stealing cars, forging checks and running scams didn't stop Robinson from building trust and respect after creating a new identity as Mike King, a business owner and high-profile bodyguard to Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The news led Deadline to pose the question of whether happenstance means Cannes might struggle to add headline-grabbing movies this year, with several other blockbusters unlikely to screen there.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Video of that incident shows Peters grabbing the other woman and shoving her into the center of a hallway.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commandeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeering. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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