variants
also highjacking
as in kidnaping
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
Relevance
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
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 hijacking
Austin Gadient, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
In fact, because hijacking passenger planes was common in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended their safety regulations in 1972 and started requiring large passenger aircraft exits to be designed so that they can’t be opened during flight.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Adopt phishing-resistant methods to prevent hijacking.
—Austin Gadient, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
The hacker’s malware focuses on stealing cryptocurrency by hijacking and manipulating the user's browser.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
In fact, because hijacking passenger planes was common in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended their safety regulations in 1972 and started requiring large passenger aircraft exits to be designed so that they can’t be opened during flight.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking
Verb
-
Now, Samsung is commandeering some of the screens already set up in homes to display ads.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Trump declared a crime emergency earlier in August, and his administration deployed federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard members to the District, giving them unprecedented authority to patrol its streets while also commandeering the Metropolitan Police force.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Two are currently in development; the first, a feature length documentary about one of the most successful women’s soccer teams in Africa, the second a feature length documentary about the surprising aftermath of a kidnapping.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
-
He was arrested on charges of kidnapping, carjacking and aggravated stalking, according to authorities.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Activist investor Sardar Biglari started his eighth proxy fight against Cracker Barrel, seizing on the chain’s earnings miss, stock slide, and botched $700 million rebrand to argue that CEO Julie Masino and the board have destroyed shareholder value.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
But many of the best-in-class companies are seizing on the chance to innovate and evolve.—
Shefali Kapadia,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Now spreading to other Blue states and cities, the LA abductions saw heavy protests in DTLA and Trump federalizing the state’s National Guard and hundreds of Marines to clampdown.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Lopez lived in the same apartment complex as the victim, but did not appear to have any contact with the child or her family prior to the abduction, police said, adding that his criminal background did not include any similar crimes.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share