variants
also highjacking
as in kidnaping
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
Kevin Pierce, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
In fact, because hijacking passenger planes was common in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended their safety regulations in 1972 and started requiring large passenger aircraft exits to be designed so that they can’t be opened during flight.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
As PANs disappear, attackers will adapt—hijacking devices and exploiting weak points in how these tools are secured.
—Kevin Pierce, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The gang runs a lucrative side business hijacking trucks of electronic devices — in this case, combination DVD/VHS players.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
One chain, used in attacks targeting a specific organization, executed a malicious DLL file hidden in an archive using a method known as COM hijacking that caused it to be executed by certain apps such as Microsoft Edge.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
The hacker’s malware focuses on stealing cryptocurrency by hijacking and manipulating the user's browser.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
In fact, because hijacking passenger planes was common in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended their safety regulations in 1972 and started requiring large passenger aircraft exits to be designed so that they can’t be opened during flight.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hijacking
Verb
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Trump declared a crime emergency earlier in August, and his administration deployed federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard members to the District, giving them unprecedented authority to patrol its streets while also commandeering the Metropolitan Police force.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
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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
Noun
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Jamel McGriff, 42, a Bronx ex-con with a decades-long rap sheet, has been charged with 14 counts of murder and 37 charges in total, including kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, weapons offenses, grand larceny and identity theft, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The prosecutor turned to the day of the kidnapping.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite the slowdown in Europe’s soft denim sales, Turkish mill Isko is seizing new growth opportunities across Asia.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Sep. 2025
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This one was about seizing one of the sweetest victories of his legendary career … whether the old quarterback wanted to admit it or not.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Yale’s lab has tracked these abductions for years now, and the group released its latest report on Tuesday, which shed more light on the scope and scale of Russia’s indoctrination efforts.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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Last year has seen a sharp rise in attacks on schools in conflict zones around the world, resulting in the death, abduction and trauma of thousands of teachers and students.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hijacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hijacking. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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