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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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variants
also highjacking
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
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Recent Examples of hijacking
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
The prices, the vast distances fans have to cover, the hijacking of the tournament by malign political forces, the environmental damage that all of this travel is causing… there is plenty to take the edge off the primal joy that the football has given us.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
The film’s director, uptight Euro expat Max (Christoph Waltz), is initially enraged by their hijacking of the shoot, but his studio fatcat bosses (both voiced by Jeff Bridges) love the unhinged results.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 June 2026
For Fernández, whose best groups will need pace, spacing, decision-making and guards who can function without hijacking possessions, Brown’s versatility has appeal.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2026
White, who was taken into custody by federal agents, was later found incompetent to stand trial on hijacking and murder charges.
—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
The daughter of a 2024 bus hijacking victim has filed a lawsuit saying the bus operator, Gwinnett County and the city of Atlanta are all to blame for not noticing the shooter’s erratic behavior long before the trigger was pulled.
—
Alex Nettles,
AJC.com,
11 June 2026
Briscoe was hired by the AP in Manila in 1970, covering a deadly earthquake that rocked the capital, an assassination attempt on Pope Paul VI and the hijacking of a plane.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Britain’s far-right has a history of hijacking incidents like this to use as fuel for their own narratives.
—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
This year’s sequel climaxes with Grace hijacking her second wedding to a Satanic heir by killing him and banishing his oligarchical cabal to hell.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 May 2026
Nicky’s sister Portia (Gus Birney) seems intent on hijacking the wedding, spearheading everything from food to decor.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
In the 1960s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and then the Palestine Liberation Organization began hijacking international flights.
—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
In December, security researchers also spotted evidence that the creators of Aisuru were behind a new botnet called Kimwolf that’s been hijacking Android TV boxes.
—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
European Union leaders on Thursday lashed out at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of hijacking critical aid for Ukraine and undermining EU decision-making in an effort to win an election at home.
—
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Twin fuel crises sparked panic buying, hoarding and violence as Americans resorted to desperate measures including siphoning, theft and even hijacking tanker trucks.
—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
While truck hijacking is not a new crime, the sophisticated cargo thefts now occurring combine traditional criminal activity with sophisticated technology to bring cargo thefts to new heights.
—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
The prices, the vast distances fans have to cover, the hijacking of the tournament by malign political forces, the environmental damage that all of this travel is causing… there is plenty to take the edge off the primal joy that the football has given us.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
The film’s director, uptight Euro expat Max (Christoph Waltz), is initially enraged by their hijacking of the shoot, but his studio fatcat bosses (both voiced by Jeff Bridges) love the unhinged results.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 June 2026
For Fernández, whose best groups will need pace, spacing, decision-making and guards who can function without hijacking possessions, Brown’s versatility has appeal.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2026
White, who was taken into custody by federal agents, was later found incompetent to stand trial on hijacking and murder charges.
—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
The daughter of a 2024 bus hijacking victim has filed a lawsuit saying the bus operator, Gwinnett County and the city of Atlanta are all to blame for not noticing the shooter’s erratic behavior long before the trigger was pulled.
—
Alex Nettles,
AJC.com,
11 June 2026
Briscoe was hired by the AP in Manila in 1970, covering a deadly earthquake that rocked the capital, an assassination attempt on Pope Paul VI and the hijacking of a plane.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
That is how a quick hotel Wi-Fi session can turn into someone hijacking an account, locking you out, racking up charges or selling your access on the side.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Britain’s far-right has a history of hijacking incidents like this to use as fuel for their own narratives.
—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
This year’s sequel climaxes with Grace hijacking her second wedding to a Satanic heir by killing him and banishing his oligarchical cabal to hell.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 May 2026
Nicky’s sister Portia (Gus Birney) seems intent on hijacking the wedding, spearheading everything from food to decor.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
In the 1960s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and then the Palestine Liberation Organization began hijacking international flights.
—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
In December, security researchers also spotted evidence that the creators of Aisuru were behind a new botnet called Kimwolf that’s been hijacking Android TV boxes.
—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
European Union leaders on Thursday lashed out at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of hijacking critical aid for Ukraine and undermining EU decision-making in an effort to win an election at home.
—
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Twin fuel crises sparked panic buying, hoarding and violence as Americans resorted to desperate measures including siphoning, theft and even hijacking tanker trucks.
—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking
Noun
-
So for example, the risks in Haiti include civil unrest, limited healthcare, crime, terrorism, and the risk of kidnapping.
-
Arnold is facing three counts of kidnapping, three counts of armed robbery, one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery from a February incident in Tampa.
Verb
-
Imagine, then, commandeering a private plane for the ultimate two-week adventure entirely on your own terms.
-
Although this year’s edition of the Oscars, which aired on ABC on March 15, was hardly in the class of the 1972 installment, there was at least one moment that recalled Johnson’s witty, graceful sendup of stars commandeering the ceremony to climb atop their soapbox.
Noun
-
Mansfield eventually confessed to Barrett's abduction and murder after roughly two years of interviews with investigators.
-
Nancy Guthrie had a pacemaker, and investigators feared for her health as none of her heart medications were taken during the abduction.
Verb
-
Authorities served a search warrant at the rescue on May 1, seizing electronics, business records, financial records, firearms, and other evidence, according to the sheriff.
-
For leadership teams worldwide, this requires striking a careful balance between responding to immediate disruption and seizing arising opportunities to bolster growth.
Noun
-
The alleged rape was reported by The Athletic in May, though the identity of the player was not revealed at the time.
-
Mendes under investigation New Zealand police are investigating allegations of rape against Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes, who has started all three of the team’s matches in the World Cup thus far.
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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