variants
also highjacking
as in kidnapping
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal
a country in which hijackings of foreign executives has become commonplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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variants
also highjacking
as in commandeering
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
some loser tried to hijack the plane with a toy gun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hijacking
Kayti Burt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
The hijacking of the sport and the community institutions that built it, by noxious forces using it for their own means.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
This prevents session hijacking if the system keeps tokens cached.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Adopt phishing-resistant methods to prevent hijacking.
—Austin Gadient, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
This constant barrage overshadows the self-care experience, hijacking my focus and frankly, tiring me out.
—Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
The hacker’s malware focuses on stealing cryptocurrency by hijacking and manipulating the user's browser.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
In fact, because hijacking passenger planes was common in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended their safety regulations in 1972 and started requiring large passenger aircraft exits to be designed so that they can’t be opened during flight.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
As far as plane hijacking stories go, Good News has a pretty happy ending.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
The hijacking of the sport and the community institutions that built it, by noxious forces using it for their own means.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
This prevents session hijacking if the system keeps tokens cached.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Adopt phishing-resistant methods to prevent hijacking.
—Austin Gadient, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Furthermore, viruses exploit these interactions by hijacking host proteins to replicate during infection.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
This constant barrage overshadows the self-care experience, hijacking my focus and frankly, tiring me out.
—Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
The hacker’s malware focuses on stealing cryptocurrency by hijacking and manipulating the user's browser.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
In fact, because hijacking passenger planes was common in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended their safety regulations in 1972 and started requiring large passenger aircraft exits to be designed so that they can’t be opened during flight.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking
Noun
-
One of its founders, William da Silva Lima, spent more than 30 years behind bars after being convicted of armed robbery, extortion and kidnapping.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The kidnapping, and Hannibal Lecter's confinement in a ballroom take place in Memphis.—
Keith Sharon,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Some hosts might not like someone else commandeering the centerpiece of the meal.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
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His obsession with the numbers results in Thiel turning South Park into a surveillance state and commandeering all the students’ data to compile a list of cultists.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Desperate to know if he was involved in her son's abduction, Marissa and her husband, Peter Irvine (Jake Lacy), confront Colin at their home.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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Lennon, 44, was accused of staging a bloody abduction scene at an Oklahoma hotel in 2012 and disappearing after he was charged with child pornography, federal authorities said.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Monday’s agreement stems from the August 2023 search of the Marion County Record, as well as the home of the paper’s publisher and a councilwoman, seizing reporters’ cell phones and computers, among other items.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Since seizing power, the Burmese military has waged an unrelenting campaign of terror.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The organization announced an investigation by outside law firm Omnia Strategy in January 2024 after allegations of human rights abuses, including rape and torture.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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No More Shame, which focuses on the shocking rape trial of Gisèle Pelicot.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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