1
as in to hijack
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commandeer
Parents retreat to the top-floor study while kids commandeer the lower-level theater.
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Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The 72-mile path that the AT takes through Great Smoky Mountains National Park could have commandeered nearly three-quarters of this list, but that would be a copout.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 7 Apr. 2025
The politicians commandeer banks, rewrite regulations, and take control of procurement contracts.
—Elizabeth David-Barrett, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2025
Booker's grand gesture thrust him — and the Democratic Party — into the national spotlight, amassing hundreds of thousands of livestream views at a time when Trump's zone-flooding style has commandeered nearly every news cycle.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commandeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeer
Verb
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In the past Hamas reportedly has hijacked food aid, retaining some for its own forces and selling what remains to the public.—
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In effect, advocates of a higher SALT deduction have hijacked the entire budget process in pursuit of a self-serving carve-out that has crowded out everything else under discussion.—
Verb
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But is Simone now the villain – or simply someone with a tough upbringing who seized an opportunity to secure her future?—
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Officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a search at Ross’ home in Oklahoma and seized materials that were used to build the explosive devices, police said.—
Verb
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Our families could be dishonored in public, our personal memories confiscated for storage inside the Criminal Archives.—
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But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.—
Verb
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None of this bodes well for Vance’s argument that judges are trying to usurp the role of American voters.—
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Pitney Bowes is now on its fourth CEO in three years, with the activist investor that started it all usurping the head of the table.—
Verb
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Mike gets into a brawl when Nathan (Dickinson, uncredited), a fellow addict also living rough, steals his wallet and blows all his cash.—
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The ‘Turkey Brothers’ steal the encore with a boisterous jam As fans begged for an encore to an empty stage, an unlikely guest took center stage.—
Verb
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Scheffler has now successfully converted his first three 54-hole leads or co-leads in majors, something done only nine other times in the modern era.—
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Apple and Google have also made efforts to remove AI services that convert clothed images into manipulated nude ones from their app stores and search results.—
Verb
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In the morning, the restaurant doubles as a coffee shop where guests can grab drip coffee, fresh juices, and a small selection of hot and cold breakfast options, including the beloved Hawaiian classic, Loco Moco.—
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The colorful bar framed in bright neon lights is on the main concourse, so people walking by can grab a drink and head to the casino or other favorite activity, Allen said.—
Verb
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The Industrialist Facing the Barclays Center, The Industrialist occupies a four-story warehouse reimagined as an artist's sanctuary.—
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One notable holdover from the prior films is providing a thread of lesbian desire, though Megan’s unrequited pining for Lori occupies a more marginal place in the narrative this time around.—
Cite this Entry
“Commandeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeer. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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