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
Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Although this year’s edition of the Oscars, which aired on ABC on March 15, was hardly in the class of the 1972 installment, there was at least one moment that recalled Johnson’s witty, graceful sendup of stars commandeering the ceremony to climb atop their soapbox.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Imagine, then, commandeering a private plane for the ultimate two-week adventure entirely on your own terms.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Although this year’s edition of the Oscars, which aired on ABC on March 15, was hardly in the class of the 1972 installment, there was at least one moment that recalled Johnson’s witty, graceful sendup of stars commandeering the ceremony to climb atop their soapbox.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeering
Noun
-
In late March a teen takeover in Hyde Park turned destructive, badly damaging cars.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
-
Licata began leading the FWISD March 24, when the Texas Education Agency appointed him as superintendent as part of a state takeover of thel district.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement Even with the right cast and script, this storyline could have been ruinous, its big personalities and B-movie chic and naked boobs with the word boobs scrolled across them hijacking the more crucial but less flashy family arc.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Nicky’s sister Portia (Gus Birney) seems intent on hijacking the wedding, spearheading everything from food to decor.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The laws, which her party backed in recent years, eliminated preliminary detention in certain cases and raised the threshold for seizing criminal assets.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2026
-
Hollander plays a vicious Irish mobster hell bent on seizing the palatial estate Reno has dedicated his life to protect after its heir runs afoul of his compatriots abroad.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Both contracts gained more than 7% last week as hopes of a peace deal that would end ship attacks and seizures around the Strait of Hormuz dimmed.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
That transparency became especially important after Gijon experienced seizure symptoms while teaching during her third year in the classroom in 2017.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Sunday morning's incident follows the NYPD confiscating vehicles and making arrests last month related to a meet-up in Maspeth, Queens, where fire was involved.—
Lisa Rozner,
CBS News,
10 May 2026
-
His first exhibition in 1963 reportedly caused a stir, with a vice squad identifying pornography in at least two of his paintings and confiscating them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Pew says the cost to administer the program is expected to be $500,000, with a one-year appropriation of $1 million to set it up.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Ars previously wrote about this legislation, which raised some eyebrows, as this is a large appropriation for a relatively straightforward spacecraft.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are less than 24 hours removed from an instant classic in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals matchup, with the Spurs stealing home court advantage thanks to a 122-115 double-overtime win in OKC.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
An indictment charged Paul Caneiro with stealing at least $75,000.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors have theorized that after Mackenzie sped up the car, Dominic and Davion could have tried to stop the crash by grabbing the wheel or gear shift.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Consider grabbing a set of packing cubes, which are great for packing for vacation and storing and organizing items at home.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commandeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeering. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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