variants also highjack
Definition of hijacknext
as in to commandeer
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hijack No Kings hasn’t been hijacked by leftist groups with more extreme agendas, spouting strident anti-American language that’s bound to repel ordinary people. George Packer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026 The add-ons were marketed as productivity or security tools, but were designed to hijack accounts. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026 Tracy Anderson believes most people today have had their attention spans hijacked by social media and their perception of beauty corrupted by trends. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 24 Jan. 2026 Insiders told the outlet the bride believed that her mother-in-law hijacked the nuptials at Montsorrel estate, owned by her parents, billionaire Nelson Peltz and model Claudia Heffner. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hijack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijack
Verb
  • Adam’s girlfriend, Angela, commandeered the kitchen, churning out hundreds of dumplings for dinner.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Its power resides in its ability to commandeer global attention, justify extraordinary action, and mobilize institutional force under the banner of an existential threat.
    Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In San Mateo County, 20 victims were recovered; in Contra Costa County, 17; and in Santa Clara County, seven victims were recovered, two traffickers arrested, and a firearm seized, according to authorities.
    Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Against the odds, Ukraine managed to repel the initial Russian attack on Kyiv and, within a few months, took back large swaths of land originally seized by Moscow.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hijack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijack. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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