1
as in to hijack
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to seize
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
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 commandeer
Trump commandeered California’s National Guard to put troops on the ground in Los Angeles, and mobilized U.S. Marines to that city.
—
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
Anderson and Forrest met in 1977, four years after DJ Kool Herc commandeered the turntables at a back-to-school party in Morris Heights and helped invent hip-hop in the process.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
Cancer ignores this division, using inflammation to commandeer the very circuits that drive a patient’s will to act.
—Adam Kepecs, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
As the trio of governors repeatedly noted, civil immigration enforcement by law and longtime legal precedent is exclusively a federal function, and constitutional separation of powers principles dictate that the feds can’t commandeer state officials to advance their own federal enforcement efforts.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
Anderson and Forrest met in 1977, four years after DJ Kool Herc commandeered the turntables at a back-to-school party in Morris Heights and helped invent hip-hop in the process.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
Cancer ignores this division, using inflammation to commandeer the very circuits that drive a patient’s will to act.
—Adam Kepecs, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
As the trio of governors repeatedly noted, civil immigration enforcement by law and longtime legal precedent is exclusively a federal function, and constitutional separation of powers principles dictate that the feds can’t commandeer state officials to advance their own federal enforcement efforts.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
Verb
-
But among the most surprising of the research team’s findings were nine new proteins tied to photosynthesis, suggesting these viruses are capable of hijacking their host’s ability to process energy.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
-
The jets also targeted the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel the Houthis hijacked back in November 2023.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Yemen’s war began when the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
-
One media entrepreneur has already seized part of the Fyre opportunity.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
From 2022 through 2024, law enforcement officials in California confiscated 139,017 guns used in crimes with identifiable serial numbers, according to the DOJ’s crime guns report.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
12 July 2025
-
No charges have been pressed against Stone, but her family said her phone was confiscated.—
Joey Safchik,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Chinese leaders just haven’t marshaled the diplomatic and military muscle—still less the political will—to usurp America’s position as the world’s premier power.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
-
Season 2, after all, found Demi attempting to usurp Taylor Frankie Paul as the face of MomTok, trying (and failing) to turn the other women against her.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
This attack works through thousands of dangerous websites, stealing credit card or PayPal details as soon as they’re entered.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
In a near-future Kolkata, ravaged by climate change, one family is about to escape, until their visas are stolen.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
This technology isn't just about converting thoughts into text.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
-
She’s even converted a Capitol office cubby into a personal vanity, with full makeup kits both there and at home.—
Tira Urquhart,
Essence,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
Order fish tacos or fresh salads at Bad Boy Burrito; grab at coffee at Cafe Moka; shop for clothing and gifts at Miss Monroe Boutique; and browse the open-air stalls at boo kee sue Botanics for handmade textiles, ceramics, and more.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
-
Pick up seasonal staples like this breezy maxi dress and these Crocs recovery slides to comfortably beat the heat, or grab year-round closet staples like these classic Levi’s jeans and this timeless button-down shirt by Gap.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Founded in 2006, the center had previously occupied a single, tiny room on the University Union’s first floor.—
Calista Oetama,
Sacbee.com,
11 July 2025
-
Interrogating the ways different myths occupy their own unique spaces establishes pathways into existences of literary immortality, offering prisms into the art of storytelling.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share