stowaway 1 of 2

noun

Definition of stowawaynext
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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stow away

2 of 2

verb

as in to hitchhike

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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 stowaway
Noun
In February, a stowaway was arrested after he was allegedly found floating in a Puerto Rican harbor with 789 pounds of cocaine. — Stephen Smith, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Any efforts to grow plants will necessarily lead to the introduction of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes — whether intentionally as useful symbionts or as accidental stowaways. — Scott E. Solomon, STAT, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
More than 77% of people who have attempted to stow away on aircraft have died, the Federal Aviation Administration said in 2019. — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 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
  1. hijacker
  2. hitchhike
  3. thumb
  4. hijack
  5. hitch
Noun
  • The incident, which was part of a double-whammy of violent encounters for the hijacker that day, was preventable and should have been better controlled, according to a wrongful-death suit filed by Jazzmyn Byrd, the daughter of a man who was shot during the hijacking.
    — Alex Nettles, AJC.com, 11 June 2026
  • The hijacker was killed when Turkish commandos stormed the airliner and freed the 40 passengers and crew.
    — Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of hijacker
Verb
  • Dreesen moved to Los Angeles, living on $1 a day and hitchhiking to The Comedy Store, begging for a set and bonding with other impoverished comedians.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026
  • The two traveled to Chippewa County, Michigan, and hitchhiked to Kincheloe once the car broke down, officials said.
    — Nick Lentz, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Definition of hitchhike
Verb
  • In one scene, a pair of revellers dance naked just outside the fence of the Calvary Cemetery, thumbing their noses at the reaper while the Manhattan skyline towers in the distance.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
  • His faith becomes tested by his burgeoning relationship with Lilith (Skye Alyssa Friedman), a classmate who takes every opportunity to thumb her nose at the confines of religion.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Definition of thumb
Verb
  • Kara changes her tune when Krem hijacks Kara’s ship and shoots Krypto with a poison dart.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of hijack
Verb
  • But when her big bro Sherlock (Henry Cavill) goes missing during the festivities, Enola pauses getting hitched to find him and also unearth a military cover-up.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • At the most basic level, a prenup is a contract would-be spouses sign before getting hitched.
    — Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Definition of hitch

Browse Nearby Words

stowages
stowaway
stow away
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stowaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stowaway. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stowaway

Nglish: Translation of stowaway for Spanish Speakers

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