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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commandeered
As their escape car was almost out of gas and one of the tires had been shot out, the robbers commandeered another car, but the driver took the keys with him.
—
Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024
The wily Canuck was practically invisible for the first three weeks of the season, a victim of far flashier payers (cough, Rome, cough) that commandeered all the camera time.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
The company has since commandeered the AI boom, most famously through the release of ChatGPT.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
The rebels commandeered police headquarters and a number of military airports, along with several neighboring villages.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
That night, Jacquemus held an after-party on the Lady Adriana, a boat moored off the Capri coast, and on the shuttle bus to the docks and the speedboat bearing guests out to the vessel, a young fan in a sleeveless shirt commandeered the PA system to lead rabble-rousing cheers.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
How Hackers Took Control of Robot Vacuums The incidents primarily involved Ecovacs robot vacuums, which hackers commandeered to deliver offensive messages in homes.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
In late June, a rogue police officer commandeered a government helicopter and attacked the Supreme Court with gunfire and grenades.
—Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2017
Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024
The wily Canuck was practically invisible for the first three weeks of the season, a victim of far flashier payers (cough, Rome, cough) that commandeered all the camera time.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
The company has since commandeered the AI boom, most famously through the release of ChatGPT.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
The rebels commandeered police headquarters and a number of military airports, along with several neighboring villages.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
That night, Jacquemus held an after-party on the Lady Adriana, a boat moored off the Capri coast, and on the shuttle bus to the docks and the speedboat bearing guests out to the vessel, a young fan in a sleeveless shirt commandeered the PA system to lead rabble-rousing cheers.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
How Hackers Took Control of Robot Vacuums The incidents primarily involved Ecovacs robot vacuums, which hackers commandeered to deliver offensive messages in homes.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
In late June, a rogue police officer commandeered a government helicopter and attacked the Supreme Court with gunfire and grenades.
—Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeered
Verb
-
Adebayo did not force his offense, in a game where there was little for the Heat to have to counter in the middle, but then seized control with his scoring late.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Before Hamas seized full control of Gaza in 2007, Christians would often place a large Christmas tree near a major square in Gaza City.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The airport bomb squad also responded and confiscated the fireworks.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
-
The airport police bomb squad also responded and confiscated the explosives.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The victim told cops the suspect grabbed her from behind, put her in a bear hug, and grinded against her before escaping down the street.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2025
-
If the only avenue for someone grabbed off the street to even present evidence contesting the government’s claims is through a complicated federal habeas claim as they’re getting rushed onto a plane, when many won’t even have lawyers, that’s effectively nothing.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
No filmmaker was better-equipped to capture the institutional failures of our economic collapse in 2007-08, as Soderbergh has always been pre-occupied by the alienating relationship between our economic systems and his characters.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The remainder of the hearing was occupied with timetables for jury selection, motions and disclosure of evidence.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In 1852, Congress appropriated $15,000 for Waukegan Harbor improvements that included a breakwater with an elevated catwalk parallel to the shore to protect the harbor, in addition to navigation aids.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2025
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The nonprofit Climate United sued the administration this weekend to unfreeze a $7 billion federal grant awarded by the Biden administration, using money Congress appropriated, that will fund clean energy and solar projects around the nation.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commandeered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeered. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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