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
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Recent Examples of hijacking
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
This allowed credential theft, session hijacking and code injection on any website.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Similarly, the presence of dead Colombians at the site of the railroad hijacking suggested that Cortez’s cartel bosses might be hanging him and his soldiers out to dry.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2025
The following list of darkly gripping movies include undercover police operations, addictive assassin dramas, and perilous hijacking odysseys based on true stories.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Genetic differences in immune regulation may also play a role in how easy a job the virus has in hijacking and recruiting cells.
—New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025
Since the hijacking, Dallas has upgraded its 173 sirens, installing what the city claims is one of the most advanced encryption systems in the country.
—CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
The private security firm Ambrey told the Associated Press that the hijacking involved three small Iranian boats.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
The Korean film follows the real-life 1970 hijacking of a Japanese aircraft by young members of a militant political organization called Red Army Faction.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Three men who escaped a Georgia jail were arrested Monday in Florida, accused of hijacking a Lyft ride-share and kidnapping the driver after putting a rope around her neck, according to a criminal complaint.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 27 Dec. 2025
This helps prevent criminals from hijacking phone numbers or spoofing calls and texts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Theories about what happened range from hijacking to cabin depressurization or power failure.
—CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
Scientists have found the clearest evidence yet that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – which nearly all of us carry for life – is directly responsible for hijacking our immune system's cells to cause lupus, a chronic disease that affects up to a million Americans.
—New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025
The episode features Lois (Alex Borstein), a worker at Big Pie, who travels to a small town with the goal of hijacking Peter’s (Seth MacFarlane) secret, beloved pie recipe.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
Speaking to Deadline in London late last year, the star and executive producer of the Apple TV thriller series talked through the mind state of Nelson, a talented business negotiator and ordinary working man who becomes an unlikely hero after a plane hijacking in Season 1.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
This allowed credential theft, session hijacking and code injection on any website.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Similarly, the presence of dead Colombians at the site of the railroad hijacking suggested that Cortez’s cartel bosses might be hanging him and his soldiers out to dry.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2025
The following list of darkly gripping movies include undercover police operations, addictive assassin dramas, and perilous hijacking odysseys based on true stories.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Genetic differences in immune regulation may also play a role in how easy a job the virus has in hijacking and recruiting cells.
—New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025
Since the hijacking, Dallas has upgraded its 173 sirens, installing what the city claims is one of the most advanced encryption systems in the country.
—CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
The private security firm Ambrey told the Associated Press that the hijacking involved three small Iranian boats.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
The Korean film follows the real-life 1970 hijacking of a Japanese aircraft by young members of a militant political organization called Red Army Faction.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
There will never again be one rogue program hijacking the sport with attitude and intimidation.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Three men who escaped a Georgia jail were arrested Monday in Florida, accused of hijacking a Lyft ride-share and kidnapping the driver after putting a rope around her neck, according to a criminal complaint.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 27 Dec. 2025
This helps prevent criminals from hijacking phone numbers or spoofing calls and texts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Theories about what happened range from hijacking to cabin depressurization or power failure.
—CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
Scientists have found the clearest evidence yet that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – which nearly all of us carry for life – is directly responsible for hijacking our immune system's cells to cause lupus, a chronic disease that affects up to a million Americans.
—New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025
The episode features Lois (Alex Borstein), a worker at Big Pie, who travels to a small town with the goal of hijacking Peter’s (Seth MacFarlane) secret, beloved pie recipe.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
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
-
While colectivo members were largely quiet immediately after Maduro’s abduction, some videos released on social media and news outlets have shown men believed to be colectivo members harassing reporters and people in the streets.—
Rebecca Hanson,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
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Justice Department opinion allows ‘forcible abductions’ abroad In ordering Noriega’s removal, the White House relied on a 1989 legal opinion by then-Assistant Attorney General Bill Barr, issued six months before the invasion.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But seizing current oil production is one thing; overhauling Venezuela's entire oil industry would be another.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has occasionally discussed seizing Greenland since his first term but few initially took his threats seriously.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If the rape had happened at a suburban hospital, people would be demanding investigations and accountability.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
However, Weinstein’s attorney Aidala expressed his frustration in court Thursday at the fact that the rape charge was going to a trial for a third time, rather than coming to some kind of resolution with the prosecution.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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