variants also highjack
Definition of hijacknext
as in to commandeer
to take control of (a vehicle) by force some loser tried to hijack the plane with a toy gun

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 hijack After proving his roster worth early on as a rookie, a shoulder injury hijacked his growth. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026 According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly, the ship was hijacked by seven armed Somali pirates. Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 For locomotion, researchers insert tiny electrodes directly into the cockroach's antennae to hijack its natural obstacle-avoidance behavior. New Atlas, 18 July 2026 The side walls engage your peripheral vision without hijacking your attention. Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hijack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijack
Verb
  • Trump also announced no plans to try to commandeer the authority to run elections that are, under the Constitution, overseen by the states.
    Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • After some initial skepticism, The Onion received the families’ blessing to commandeer the once-conspiratorial brand known for spreading falsehoods about mass shootings and politics while promoting sales of questionable supplements and gold.
    Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • The pivotal moment occurred when Randy Orton made a shocking return, delivering an RKO to Cody Rhodes, which allowed Punk to seize the opportunity and secure the pinfall.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The 12th-century castle, also known as Al-Shaqif, was seized by Israeli forces in May.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hijack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijack. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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