1
as in hijacked
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in seized
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
commandeered all of the equipment, as if the chem lab belonged solely to him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commandeered
The event was so popular that the crowd spilled into the place next door, and in a restaurant called Amber, the sound system was commandeered.
—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
The concept is based upon unfussy Italian cooking with local ingredients, commandeered by a chef whose background is in looking after Italy’s most prestigious families, rather than restaurants.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Since last year, when the RSF overran parts of Darfur and Kordofan, the militia has commandeered the gum trade, integrating it into its smuggling empire and further starving government coffers.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
The police had established barriers for the zone earlier in the afternoon, which rioters commandeered to fight back against police.
—
Preston Mizell,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
If squirrels have commandeered your bird feeder, take it down for a few days.
—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
But renewable technology, coupled with electrification, is ready for prime time and has now commandeered a starring role.
—
Kathleen Biggins,
Sun Sentinel,
26 May 2026
During the Brooks-Baxter War, the club's quarters were commandeered by armed guards of the Joseph Brooks faction, who locked the members out and then used the facility as a military hospital.
—
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2026
Antwaun Sargent commandeered the Gagosian booth, which has a pleasantly group show-y feel, with a nice moment featuring a Theaster Gates sculpture flanked by a Stanley Whitney painting and a Tyler Mitchell photograph.
—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
The concept is based upon unfussy Italian cooking with local ingredients, commandeered by a chef whose background is in looking after Italy’s most prestigious families, rather than restaurants.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Since last year, when the RSF overran parts of Darfur and Kordofan, the militia has commandeered the gum trade, integrating it into its smuggling empire and further starving government coffers.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
The police had established barriers for the zone earlier in the afternoon, which rioters commandeered to fight back against police.
—
Preston Mizell,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
If squirrels have commandeered your bird feeder, take it down for a few days.
—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
But renewable technology, coupled with electrification, is ready for prime time and has now commandeered a starring role.
—
Kathleen Biggins,
Sun Sentinel,
26 May 2026
During the Brooks-Baxter War, the club's quarters were commandeered by armed guards of the Joseph Brooks faction, who locked the members out and then used the facility as a military hospital.
—
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2026
Antwaun Sargent commandeered the Gagosian booth, which has a pleasantly group show-y feel, with a nice moment featuring a Theaster Gates sculpture flanked by a Stanley Whitney painting and a Tyler Mitchell photograph.
—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
-
For more on how attackers can abuse connected devices, see our report on how the FBI warned that more than 1 million Android devices were hijacked by malware.
-
The cruelest dimension of this is that a Christianity hijacked by the evangelical right now seeks to sanctify that mythology in the name of God.
Verb
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Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.
-
Meanwhile, Russia’s military on Saturday claimed to have seized the city of Kostiantynivka, a key defensive hub in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Verb
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In Dallas, the FBI recently announced agents confiscated four drones that allegedly violated Temporary Flight Restrictions over AT&T Stadium and the city's FIFA Fan Festival.
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The majority found that the cruise lines were trafficking in property confiscated from the American owner of a docks company decades earlier.
Verb
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Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart in the first half, and six minutes after Jarell Quansah was sent off, Kane converted a penalty to restore England’s two-goal lead.
-
Half the elegant stable block (converted into a studio by Beaton) and a cozy dairy house remained.
Verb
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Congress’s celebration, planned for a decade, has been usurped by the president’s celebration, funded by private donors and featuring a political speech by himself.
-
The wedding broke the record for the largest single-location mass wedding at the time, until it was usurped in 2023, per Guinness World Records.
Verb
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When Kennedy approached the rider and grabbed the handlebars to check whether the bike was registered, the rider refused to get off and allegedly tried to pull away.
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Maura Higgins, breakout star of The Traitors, grabbed her best tennis whites to ace the style assignment at Wimbledon 2026.
Verb
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But the location of his grave was lost once British troops retook the city in late 1778 and occupied it through the war’s end, camping in the cemetery.
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Dying was such a momentous thing to do, and while Matthew, their dear friend, their cousin-brother, had been off doing it, the women had occupied themselves with such frivolities as cleaning and heat.
Verb
-
The press release says in total Fleming stole about $450,000 in cash.
-
That's when Brandon Miller made his move and stole not only the win but the show.
Cite this Entry
“Commandeered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeered. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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