as in takeover
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority
the Spanish navy's commandeering of fishing boats and impressment of fishermen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in hijacking
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
an airliner commandeered by terrorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in seizing
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 commandeering
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
She was accused of commandeering a car owned by a neighbor and former friend and then driving it into the woman, according to court papers.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Rita Ora once again returns as co-host alongside Seacrest, who’s marking his 20th year commandeering the holiday staple.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Companies got creative when shipping costs skyrocketed, placing orders directly with factories to cut out intermediaries or commandeering their own container ships and planes to ensure timely delivery.
—Shannon K. O'Neil, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2021
Verb
View 3 Images By commandeering smart thermostats and water heaters and sipping power from in-home EV chargers, virtual power plants are being formed across the country.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
She was accused of commandeering a car owned by a neighbor and former friend and then driving it into the woman, according to court papers.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Rita Ora once again returns as co-host alongside Seacrest, who’s marking his 20th year commandeering the holiday staple.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Companies got creative when shipping costs skyrocketed, placing orders directly with factories to cut out intermediaries or commandeering their own container ships and planes to ensure timely delivery.
—Shannon K. O'Neil, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commandeering
Noun
-
The film and images were unveiled on Saturday, kicking off a worldwide rollout that will include an outdoor campaign, a takeover of the facade of Harrods department store in London, and pop-ups in cities ranging from Mexico City to Tokyo.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
1 Mar. 2025
-
An update would have been warranted, Bibas explained, in the event of a takeover, merger or liquidation, but a game selling better than expected doesn’t rise to that level.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Pretending to be dead, Gi-hun and his friends launch a surprise attack, overpowering the guards and seizing their weapons, leaving only one guard alive.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
-
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) forces have since received training by Russian forces in the Far East and first engaged in combat with Ukrainian military in November, subsequently seizing their first village in Kursk, Plekhovo, earlier this month.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Christian's doctors also discussed the possible need for a high-risk surgery; he's been experiencing seizures, ultimately keeping him in the PICU. Dog and His Owner Help Save Pa.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
21 Feb. 2025
-
This protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Congress failed to pass regular annual spending appropriations, instead resorting to a short-term continuing resolution.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Enacted in 1974, the law aimed to reassert Congress' power of the purse by providing the procedures for when a president wants to suspend appropriations that have already been approved by Congress.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Edwards delivered in a big way, scoring a career-high 53 points, hitting 10 3-pointers and grabbing six rebounds.—
Jon Krawczynski,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
-
But those are just two headline-grabbing crimes.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately, mid-rehearsal, their mother, Rose (an absolutely magnificent McDonald), comes thundering onto the stage, usurping Jocko’s leadership and sucking up all of the air into the room.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
20 Dec. 2024
-
For instance, one of his first actions was to fund the Al-Jazeera Arabic satellite television station, allowing Qatar to set the agenda on TV screens from Casablanca to Cairo, usurping the role once played by state information ministries.—
Allen Fromherz / Made by History,
TIME,
30 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Following Assad’s fall, Israel has expanded its presence beyond the Golan Heights, occupying areas deeper inside Syria and justifying the move by citing security concerns.—
Hamidreza Azizi,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Dec. 2024
-
While landfills may not emit hazardous compounds, non-biodegradable debris is occupying more and more space.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Commandeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commandeering. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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