1
as in hijacks
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in seizes
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 commandeers
When the State Department commandeers the West Virginia hotel to house Axis diplomats in the wake of Pearl Harbor, June realizes that nothing will ever be the same again.
—
Audiofile Magazine
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
Audiofile Magazine
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeers
Verb
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After all, if an attacker hijacks the agent’s credentials or manipulates its input data, the agent could take harmful actions faster and more persistently than any human user.—
Michael DeCesare,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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In their new action-comedy movie The Pickup, Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson play armored truck drivers who are reluctantly pulled into a casino heist when a burglar (Keke Palmer) hijacks their vehicle.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When Day succumbs to his wounds, Dusk seizes the vacuum, claiming Hari Seldon’s psychohistory crystal.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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By the time Megan seizes control of the reins at the film’s close, the abrupt denouement feels jarringly disconnected rather than organic to the storytelling.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the feeling when a film grabs hold remains the same—by a story, a character, a voice—that, never goes out of season.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
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The lilting Calle Malaga, Morocco’s official entry for the International Feature Film Oscar, is a joy largely because of its veteran star who envelops the screen and grabs a role of a career.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Taylor Kitsch is fantastic, but Tom Hopper steals the show.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Still, as Huntrix finally steals the show, the movie shows the singers and the audience as equals.—
Yvonne Kim,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Springer usually occupies the leadoff position in the Blue Jays lineup.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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In another example, O’Reilly’s in-field movement occupies Yoro and prevents the right centre-back from marking Foden, who is positioned behind United’s midfield duo.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Braisted explained that the school district answers to the state, which appropriates most federal funding for MNPS.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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These words have different meanings in the context of AAVE, some say, and using them in a way that appropriates or stereotypes certain people groups strips away the importance of the original definitions.—
Mia Thurow,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Comb of many colors At the core of the breakthrough is an optical parametric oscillator (OPO), a resonator that converts incoming laser light into new frequencies using a nonlinear crystal.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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Some scientists theorized that Martian soil might contain a compound that quickly converts any organic material on the surface to carbon dioxide.—
Joel S. Levine,
The Conversation,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Story editing is a form of self-talk that preempts your under-estimator from seizing control with its bludgeoning feedback.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Under state law, the legislature currently preempts all authority of a home rule charter or city government to regulate firearms and ammunition.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeers. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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