Synonyms of hijacking

hijacking 1 of 2

noun

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

• kidnapping
• abduction
• rape
• snatch
• seizure
• impressment
• shanghaiing

hijacking

2 of 2

verb

variants also highjacking

present participle of hijack

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

• commandeering
• seizing
• confiscating
• carjacking
• skyjacking
• appropriating
• expropriating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hijacking

Noun

The hijacking is the latest in a series of attacks attributed to Somali pirates, whose activities have resurfaced in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean after years of relative inactivity. — Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

There are also some strong sequences in the climax to Nolan’s Batman trilogy — such as the riveting plane hijacking opener, and Bruce’s trial in The Pit. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

The prime minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, however, knew that negotiating with terrorists would encourage the next hijacking. — Anne Neuberger, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

The vulnerabilities address issues such as apps causing system termination, malicious web content leading to crashes or other issues such as memory corruption or hijacking of clipboard data. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

The prices, the vast distances fans have to cover, the hijacking of the tournament by malign political forces, the environmental damage that all of this travel is causing… there is plenty to take the edge off the primal joy that the football has given us. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 23 June 2026

The film’s director, uptight Euro expat Max (Christoph Waltz), is initially enraged by their hijacking of the shoot, but his studio fatcat bosses (both voiced by Jeff Bridges) love the unhinged results. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 June 2026

For Fernández, whose best groups will need pace, spacing, decision-making and guards who can function without hijacking possessions, Brown’s versatility has appeal. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026

Verb

The side walls engage your peripheral vision without hijacking your attention. — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

That is how a quick hotel Wi-Fi session can turn into someone hijacking an account, locking you out, racking up charges or selling your access on the side. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

Britain’s far-right has a history of hijacking incidents like this to use as fuel for their own narratives. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

This year’s sequel climaxes with Grace hijacking her second wedding to a Satanic heir by killing him and banishing his oligarchical cabal to hell. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026

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