variants
also highjacked
as in commandeered
to take control of (a vehicle) by force
some loser tried to hijack the plane with a toy gun
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hijacked
There, he gradually gets caught up in the criminal underworld that hijacked the country’s privatization following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
—
Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
The defense has argued that the plot to arrest Moïse was ultimately hijacked and he was killed by his own security forces, not the Colombian commandos hired by CTU’s partners.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Sometime around 2010, sophisticated malware known as Flame hijacked the mechanism that Microsoft used to distribute updates to millions of Windows computers around the world.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Carl says, in a confessional, that the conversation didn’t go anywhere and Kyle just hijacked it by complaining about his life.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2026
However, a hacker hijacked the account of Axios' lead developer and quietly introduced two malicious software versions on Monday night, according to cybersecurity vendor StepSecurity.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
In 1976, with dictator Idi Amin aggressively opposing Israel, four terrorists hijacked Air France Flight 139 on its way from Tel Aviv to France.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Anti-porn crusaders of all ilks also hijacked the news of Radvinsky’s passing for their various pro-censorship agendas.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
The incident started when Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill robbed a Coral Gables jewelry store, then hijacked Ordoñez’s UPS truck 2 miles away and took him with them on a high-speed chase into Broward County that ended at a crowded Miramar intersection.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
The defense has argued that the plot to arrest Moïse was ultimately hijacked and he was killed by his own security forces, not the Colombian commandos hired by CTU’s partners.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Sometime around 2010, sophisticated malware known as Flame hijacked the mechanism that Microsoft used to distribute updates to millions of Windows computers around the world.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Carl says, in a confessional, that the conversation didn’t go anywhere and Kyle just hijacked it by complaining about his life.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2026
However, a hacker hijacked the account of Axios' lead developer and quietly introduced two malicious software versions on Monday night, according to cybersecurity vendor StepSecurity.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
In 1976, with dictator Idi Amin aggressively opposing Israel, four terrorists hijacked Air France Flight 139 on its way from Tel Aviv to France.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Anti-porn crusaders of all ilks also hijacked the news of Radvinsky’s passing for their various pro-censorship agendas.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
The incident started when Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill robbed a Coral Gables jewelry store, then hijacked Ordoñez’s UPS truck 2 miles away and took him with them on a high-speed chase into Broward County that ended at a crowded Miramar intersection.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacked
Verb
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After being commandeered into a hospital during World War I, the hotel was purchased in 1957 by Jeanne Augier, who restored the property’s former glory—and then some.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
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The mass grave by the University of Sudan, which was near a building the RSF commandeered as a detention center, likely contains thousands of corpses, al-Abidin said.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities also seized multiple weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, the military said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Some vessels with links to Iran made attempts to move through the strait, but others are staying away after Iran attacked three ships with gunfire earlier this week and seized two more.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hijacked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacked. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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