as in hijacker
someone who hides on a ship, airplane, etc., in order to travel without paying or being seen
A stowaway was discovered on the ship.
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Recent Examples of stowaway
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Traveler Melissa Oddie captured video of the furry stowaway, which the airport later shared on Facebook.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Over 77 percent of people who have tried to stow away on a plane have lost their lives, the Federal Aviation Administration previously said, per CNN.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stowaway
Noun
Experts believe Joro spiders were stowaways in shipping containers back in 2014, and that’s how they were introduced to the United States.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Traveler Melissa Oddie captured video of the furry stowaway, which the airport later shared on Facebook.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Use the containers to stow away your pet's grooming tools, medications, outerwear, costumes, or backup toys.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Over 77 percent of people who have tried to stow away on a plane have lost their lives, the Federal Aviation Administration previously said, per CNN.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stowaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stowaway
Noun
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The hijacker was killed when Turkish commandos stormed the airliner and freed the 40 passengers and crew.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In one segment, when Kimmel and McNearney pick up a hitchhiking Olivia Rodrigo while taking the family to school, Jane shows off her personality, clasping her hands over her mouth in disbelief when Rodrigo enters the car, only to sing-along with the pop star on her way to school.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
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In short, this step ensures the mission doesn't accidentally carry any hitchhiking microorganisms to Mars.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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McCain first thumbed the pages en route to the Tarkanian Classic, a notable high school tournament in Las Vegas.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
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But Harris believes the end result is an ambitious attempt to thumb its nose at the patriarchy while allowing a story that addresses abuse, violence, and trauma to also be an incredibly fun time.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
16 May 2026
Verb
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And when Khomeini broke that promise, my father was one of the first to stand up to him and the extremists who hijacked that revolution.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
2 June 2026
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Washington armed the trade ship with a few cannons, manned her with fishermen and sent her out to hijack British supply ships to help his army win the siege of Boston.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Verb
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If your cat or dog is outside and not wearing a flea protection product, fleas hitch a ride indoors with them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
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In 1985, a breeding population of the black-and-white Aedes albopictus mosquito hitched a ride on a Japanese tire shipment bound for Texas.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stowaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stowaway. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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