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
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Recent Examples of hijacking
ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Google says that any site that uses back button hijacking should spend the next two months eliminating the practice.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026
Several actual terror attacks against India are featured in the plot; these include the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814, the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, and the 2008 attacks across multiple landmarks in Mumbai.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
The hijacking sparked a dramatic police chase that ended in a rush-hour shootout when the truck became stuck in traffic on the busy Miramar Parkway.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
The role of Israel’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime.
—Dake Kang, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
And each one of those detours represents an opportunity for a hijacking if the data isn’t properly encrypted.
—Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026
After the first season found Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) unwittingly involved in the hijacking of a plane, Season 2 of the show takes things underground, as Sam is part of a hijacking of a U-Bahn subway train in Berlin, specifically on the U5 route.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
In the 1960s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and then the Palestine Liberation Organization began hijacking international flights.
—Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
In December, security researchers also spotted evidence that the creators of Aisuru were behind a new botnet called Kimwolf that’s been hijacking Android TV boxes.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
European Union leaders on Thursday lashed out at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of hijacking critical aid for Ukraine and undermining EU decision-making in an effort to win an election at home.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Twin fuel crises sparked panic buying, hoarding and violence as Americans resorted to desperate measures including siphoning, theft and even hijacking tanker trucks.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
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
The Pentagon does not want hostile forces hijacking these robotic freighters.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
This is the second hijacking incident in less than a week; on Wednesday an oil tanker was seized in waters off Puntland.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Google says that any site that uses back button hijacking should spend the next two months eliminating the practice.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026
Several actual terror attacks against India are featured in the plot; these include the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814, the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, and the 2008 attacks across multiple landmarks in Mumbai.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
The hijacking sparked a dramatic police chase that ended in a rush-hour shootout when the truck became stuck in traffic on the busy Miramar Parkway.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
The role of Israel’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime.
—Dake Kang, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
And each one of those detours represents an opportunity for a hijacking if the data isn’t properly encrypted.
—Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026
After the first season found Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) unwittingly involved in the hijacking of a plane, Season 2 of the show takes things underground, as Sam is part of a hijacking of a U-Bahn subway train in Berlin, specifically on the U5 route.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
Nicky’s sister Portia (Gus Birney) seems intent on hijacking the wedding, spearheading everything from food to decor.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
In the 1960s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and then the Palestine Liberation Organization began hijacking international flights.
—Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
In December, security researchers also spotted evidence that the creators of Aisuru were behind a new botnet called Kimwolf that’s been hijacking Android TV boxes.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
European Union leaders on Thursday lashed out at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of hijacking critical aid for Ukraine and undermining EU decision-making in an effort to win an election at home.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Twin fuel crises sparked panic buying, hoarding and violence as Americans resorted to desperate measures including siphoning, theft and even hijacking tanker trucks.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
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
The Pentagon does not want hostile forces hijacking these robotic freighters.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking
Noun
-
Niebla-Machado gave the agent a firearm and a Dodge Ram pickup truck as a down payment for the kidnapping, according to court records.—
Kendrick Calfee
May 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
This came partly because of two ransom notes received from a person claiming to have information about the kidnapping.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
8 May 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
Noun
-
Fritz also reviewed clips of the abduction video that shows Horner placing Athena in his FedEx truck.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But in 2003, Santa Barbara police arrested Jackson on 10 criminal counts, including child molestation, abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s not currently the case with José Caballero, a career utilityman, seizing his shot to start at shortstop over the past few weeks.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
-
Unlike Friday’s Oaks, where Ortiz had Always a Runner near the leaders before taking charge through the final turn and soaring past Meaning for a 1 1/4-length win, seizing the Derby required everything from jockey and mount.—
Gary B. Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Her testimony came after a judge last year declared a mistrial on the count of rape.—
Lisa Rozner,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In 2024, the Queens native starred in the London production of Lindsey Ferrentino’s eye-opening play, which tells the shattering true story of Nick Yarris, who was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder and spent 22 years on Pennsylvania’s death row.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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