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
Michael Silver, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The hijacking of humanitarian aid convoys by Hamas and armed gangs prevented the civilian population from receiving food and medicines.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
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
Starting on June 15, 2026, sites using back button hijacking could be hit with either automated or manual anti-spam actions.
—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
Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 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
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
The Pentagon does not want hostile forces hijacking these robotic freighters.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
Nothing too extreme thus far — no darkness retreat, ayahuasca journey or draft-night hijacking — but still, enough to make the Steelers feel just a bit uneasy.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The hijacking of humanitarian aid convoys by Hamas and armed gangs prevented the civilian population from receiving food and medicines.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
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
Starting on June 15, 2026, sites using back button hijacking could be hit with either automated or manual anti-spam actions.
—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
Verb
Advertisement Even with the right cast and script, this storyline could have been ruinous, its big personalities and B-movie chic and naked boobs with the word boobs scrolled across them hijacking the more crucial but less flashy family arc.
—Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 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
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
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
-
Yes, Stolen Baby is based on the real-life murder of Broussard and the kidnapping of her daughter, Margo Elizabeth Carey.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
But a week after reporting the kidnapping, investigators arrested the couple at their Cabazon home after determining that Emmanuel was most likely dead and the couple had faked their story.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
29 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
-
What’s behind the mass abduction of Nigerian children?—
TheWeek,
TheWeek,
22 May 2026
-
The father, who is separated from their mother, previously went to the police in France and reported her for child abduction, while the mother's family reported her disappearance on May 11.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
In 1940, the German army was invading and seizing one European country after another.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
-
Prosecutors also said the captain received radio calls from cartel members attempting to communicate with the Aquatravesia before boarding or seizing the vessel.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
As a school-leaving-age young woman in 2012, simple maths dictates that she must have been conceived around the time of a conflict that was also defined by the use of mass rape as a weapon of war.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
26 May 2026
-
Inspired by Gisèle Pelicot ’s decision to make her harrowing drug and rape trial public, the parents of the children agreed to open the proceedings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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