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 tech giant also shared information on the threat, how the group has carried out the hijacking, and the best practices for the public to avoid the threat. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Thieves have long used a variety of methods — tapping into ducts, hijacking tanker trucks or robbing directly from facilities of Petroleos Mexicanos, the state energy company known as Pemex. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Other elements that appeared in sequels, such as several Covenant weapons and vehicle hijacking, are also now part of the experience. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 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

Verb

While Hollywood often depicts hackers remotely hijacking an entire vehicle, experts say modern attacks are more likely to target the broader ecosystem surrounding autonomous cars. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

The guide also featured a picture of Palestinian activist Leila Khaled, who gained iconic status among left-wing circles for hijacking planes in 1969 and 1970. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026

Each episode barrels forward with the logic of a live-action cartoon, hijacking the visual language of everything from My Dinner With Andre to Dog Day Afternoon, while cramming in references to pop culture, video games, and Canadian esoterica. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026

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