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
Relevance
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
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
Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026 The role of Israel's hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026 The hijacking sparked a dramatic police chase that ended in a rush-hour shootout when the truck became stuck in traffic on the busy Miramar Parkway. —Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026 The role of Israel’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime. —Dake Kang, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026 And each one of those detours represents an opportunity for a hijacking if the data isn’t properly encrypted. —Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026 After the first season found Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) unwittingly involved in the hijacking of a plane, Season 2 of the show takes things underground, as Sam is part of a hijacking of a U-Bahn subway train in Berlin, specifically on the U5 route. —Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026 The plot loosely draws from and includes actual footage from real-life events including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. —Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 For Elba, 53, seeing Sam navigate a hijacking from a different angle, while also challenging the audience to figure why his character is taking such drastic measures, helped convince him that a second season of Apple TV's thriller series was a good idea. —Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
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 The goal is to stop scammers from hijacking accounts through tricks like fake talent competitions or misleading QR codes. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026 For example, a standout sequence in which Mabel’s attempts to communicate with Jerry via text-to-speech on her phone are derailed by George and the other animals hijacking it while discovering emojis is a riot, and only works because each of the characters is immediately understandable. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026 The Pentagon does not want hostile forces hijacking these robotic freighters. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
Several actual terror attacks against India are featured in the plot; these include the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814, the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, and the 2008 attacks across multiple landmarks in Mumbai. —Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026 The role of Israel's hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026 The hijacking sparked a dramatic police chase that ended in a rush-hour shootout when the truck became stuck in traffic on the busy Miramar Parkway. —Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026 The role of Israel’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime. —Dake Kang, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026 And each one of those detours represents an opportunity for a hijacking if the data isn’t properly encrypted. —Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026 After the first season found Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) unwittingly involved in the hijacking of a plane, Season 2 of the show takes things underground, as Sam is part of a hijacking of a U-Bahn subway train in Berlin, specifically on the U5 route. —Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026 The plot loosely draws from and includes actual footage from real-life events including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. —Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 For Elba, 53, seeing Sam navigate a hijacking from a different angle, while also challenging the audience to figure why his character is taking such drastic measures, helped convince him that a second season of Apple TV's thriller series was a good idea. —Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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 The goal is to stop scammers from hijacking accounts through tricks like fake talent competitions or misleading QR codes. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026 For example, a standout sequence in which Mabel’s attempts to communicate with Jerry via text-to-speech on her phone are derailed by George and the other animals hijacking it while discovering emojis is a riot, and only works because each of the characters is immediately understandable. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026 The Pentagon does not want hostile forces hijacking these robotic freighters. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking
Noun
-
Benue has been a hot spot for armed violence in Nigeria's northern region where armed gangs often target remote villagers and travelers with violent killings and kidnapping for ransom.— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
-
Another alleged Tre-4 member, Sincere Pomar, faces kidnapping and robbery charges in a Richmond marijuana dispensary robbery where the victims were held at gunpoint and zip-tied, court records show.— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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.— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
-
After commandeering the offense with shot volume in recent games, Edwards played a real floor game to get his teammates involved.— Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The alert was inspired by the 1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas.— Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
-
Fans will have to tune in next week to find out Andrea's fate — and see if her abduction rattles Kayce.— Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Road closures have been seizing the country’s leafy capital, as vans disgorge military style kit bags and American personnel to match at top hotels.— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
-
Human Rights Watch said authorities have taken sweeping steps to curb religious practice, including tearing down churches and crosses, blocking gatherings at unregistered churches and seizing religious materials not approved by the state.— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This is the former movie producer's third rape trial in New York after he was tried in 2020 and 2025.— Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
-
Mann first met Weinstein at an engagement party in February 2013, six weeks before the alleged rape.— Karla Cote, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
