1
as in hijacked
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commandeered
Police say that when the friend refused, Rosas punched him in the face, knocking out his tooth, and commandeered the car.
—
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Sonoma State commandeered the spotlight, announcing the discontinuation of its sports department due to a hefty $24 million budget deficit.
—Ryan Curry, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere, on the corner of Broadway and Fourth streets, Mero has commandeered a once historic building that’s been burned and left to rot.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
The singer/songwriter/producer who has commandeered the charts for decades with more than 30 Top 40 pop and adult contemporary hits can easily zigzag topics, whether music past and current, shaking a martini, or applying moisturizer.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Adam’s girlfriend, Angela, commandeered the kitchen, churning out hundreds of dumplings for dinner.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Schwarzenegger commandeered the stage with then-wife Maria Shriver to thank the crowds for the stellar turnout.
—René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
Not even the closets are safe from being commandeered as exhibit space for the Chicago Collective.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
With the help of Obruchev, Safin plans to mass-produce Heracles on an island called the Poison Garden, which was once owned by his family but commandeered by SPECTRE after their murder.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Sonoma State commandeered the spotlight, announcing the discontinuation of its sports department due to a hefty $24 million budget deficit.
—Ryan Curry, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere, on the corner of Broadway and Fourth streets, Mero has commandeered a once historic building that’s been burned and left to rot.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
The singer/songwriter/producer who has commandeered the charts for decades with more than 30 Top 40 pop and adult contemporary hits can easily zigzag topics, whether music past and current, shaking a martini, or applying moisturizer.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Adam’s girlfriend, Angela, commandeered the kitchen, churning out hundreds of dumplings for dinner.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Schwarzenegger commandeered the stage with then-wife Maria Shriver to thank the crowds for the stellar turnout.
—René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
Not even the closets are safe from being commandeered as exhibit space for the Chicago Collective.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
With the help of Obruchev, Safin plans to mass-produce Heracles on an island called the Poison Garden, which was once owned by his family but commandeered by SPECTRE after their murder.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
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Carl says, in a confessional, that the conversation didn’t go anywhere and Kyle just hijacked it by complaining about his life.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
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However, a hacker hijacked the account of Axios' lead developer and quietly introduced two malicious software versions on Monday night, according to cybersecurity vendor StepSecurity.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police said that officers seized a quantity of marijuana and a gun that was later found to have been stolen.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Gangs have since seized control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, leading then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry to request international military support in 2022.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Upon arrival in Russia, passports are immediately confiscated and retained by North Korean security officials, according to the report.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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In January, the Colombian Navy seized over two tons of cocaine from a speedboat in the South Pacific Ocean, and in November, the nation announced its largest cocaine bust in a decade, with 14 tons confiscated at its main Pacific port.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Predators blew a 3-0 lead before O'Reilly converted off a pass from Luke Evangelista to give them their 15th straight win over the Sharks for their longest winning streak ever against one opponent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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But the Flames had converted four times on either odd-man rushes or breakaways, erasing the Ducks’ early 1-0 lead.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Vodka had overtaken gin in popularity by 1967, but by 2000 had fully usurped it, like Claudius to King Hamlet—occupied its position, married its wife, and taken control of its lands.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
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In other words, the apparatus that became the modern movie camera, up until digital technology usurped the role that film cameras played in capturing the first 100 years of filmmaking.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shamet was fouled on the play and missed the and-one free throw, but second-year backup big man Ariel Hukporti grabbed the offensive rebound to create a second shot opportunity.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Walmart grabbed 23% of the market share last year, the same as in 2024.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even the sixth-generation ryokans that have occupied this neighborhood for centuries don’t have this bird’s eye view.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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If slightly adult-leaning movies once occupied the center of the multiplex, that territory now belongs to the PG movie.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the second pitch, Joey Loperfido stole second base and Christian Walker scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by catcher Connor Wong.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Nestlé revealed that thieves stole 12 tons of KitKat products while the candy was in transit between the company’s factory in central Italy and its destination in Poland.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commandeered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeered. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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