Thesaurus results for HIJACKING

hijacking 1 of 2

noun

variants also highjacking

as in kidnapping

the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal a country in which hijackings of foreign executives has become commonplace

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hijacking

2 of 2

verb

variants also highjacking

present participle of hijack

as in commandeering

to take control of (a vehicle) by force some loser tried to hijack the plane with a toy gun

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 hijacking

Noun

For some supporters, there were alarming echoes of last year’s Hugo Ekitike ‘hijacking’. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Hetzner Online reclaimed the address space 12 hours after the hijacking started by announcing the correct path. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 But, at some level, these campaigns also seem a response to the right-wing evangelical hijacking of the Gospel message. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Despite the taboo, Pan Am spent the 1980s running its own reassurance campaign amid a wave of hijacking and bombing threats against transatlantic flights, insisting on its own safety and security even as the threats mounted. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 The attacks have occurred increasingly far from Somalia’s coastline, including the hijacking of the Eureka while anchored off Yemen and the Asana about 65 nautical miles southwest of Al-Mukalla. — Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 But the border is only one issue that Velis, a traditional Democrat, is taking on the DSA in a state where leading Democrats have either embraced the hijacking of their party by the radical DSA or have run for cover. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Eight pirates, believed to be members of a group previously involved in the hijacking of the M/V Sward on April 26, took the vessel toward the coast near Garmaal in Puntland’s Dangoroyo district. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 That’s likely because the account hijacking can also pave the way for the culprits to learn details about the victim. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026

Verb

Palace dispatched a private jet to France in anticipation of hijacking Sunderland’s deal, their confidence bolstered by Sage’s strong relationship with the forward. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Which in a very real sense signals long-time Fed efforts to expand its own purpose by hijacking inflation. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The longtime Adult Swim mischief-maker behind the viral hits ‘Too Many Cooks’ and ‘Yule Log’ specializes in hijacking familiar media formats, revealing the sinister anxieties beneath them. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Visible signs of body-hijacking mental illness drive Ingrid to a grisly suicide in the bathroom that her daughter is forced to witness. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 The question is how long the mini-digression can become without hijacking the main sentence (or story). — Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 While Hollywood often depicts hackers remotely hijacking an entire vehicle, experts say modern attacks are more likely to target the broader ecosystem surrounding autonomous cars. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 The guide also featured a picture of Palestinian activist Leila Khaled, who gained iconic status among left-wing circles for hijacking planes in 1969 and 1970. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 Each episode barrels forward with the logic of a live-action cartoon, hijacking the visual language of everything from My Dinner With Andre to Dog Day Afternoon, while cramming in references to pop culture, video games, and Canadian esoterica. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking

Noun

Chilean authorities have charged Rafael Enrique Gámez Salas, the alleged leader of Los Piratas, the main branch of Tren de Aragua in Chile, with kidnapping, extortion and criminal association, among other offenses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Former Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts Mike Caruso, who is facing allegations of kidnapping and molesting a child, will be freed from jail and can have contact with children, an Orlando judge ruled Friday.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of kidnapping

Verb

Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, California, began charging in 2022 to discourage commuters, travelers and other people not parking there to shop from commandeering all the spots.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Imagine, then, commandeering a private plane for the ultimate two-week adventure entirely on your own terms.

— Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026

Definition of commandeering

Verb

Their demands for records mirror a New Mexico lawsuit and whistleblower claims that agents were ordered to stand down instead of seizing hundreds of thousands of lethal pills.

— Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Since seizing power, Tiani’s government has shifted away from Western partners, deepened ties with Russia and broken with the regional ECOWAS bloc, joining Mali and Burkina Faso to form the breakaway AES bloc.

— Reuters, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of seizing

Noun

Flynn’s attorney, Jerry Giesler, had become famous defending Alexander Pantages, the theater-chain mogul, on a rape charge.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Some critics report being verbally abused, doxxed, and even threatened with rape and death by BJP supporters.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of rape

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hijackers

hijacking

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“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hijacking

noun

verb

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