highjacked

Taken by force

Highjacked is a variant spelling of hijacked—the past tense of hijack, meaning to seize control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, by force: The plane was highjacked by terrorists.

The spelling with the extra h is less common but appears occasionally.

By extension, anything commandeered or taken over can be highjacked: The meeting was highjacked by one person's agenda.

aviation

airplane

Powered flying machine

flightAerial journey by aircraft
cockpitPilot's control compartment
pilotOne who steers aircraft

hostage · terrorist · ransom · transponder · airspace · fuselage · altitude · mayday · distress · radar

coercion

forced

Made to occur unwillingly

threatenedExpressed intent to harm
hostageCaptive held as security
gunpointAimed weapon's end

demands · intimidated · captive · ransom · duress · compelled · overpowered · subdued · restrained · bound

seizure

commandeered

Seized for official use

piratedCopied without authorization
appropriatedTook for one's use
usurpedSeized authority illegally

confiscated · requisitioned · diverted · expropriated · stolen · snatched · grabbed · captured · taken · boarded

figurative

derailed

Thrown off course

sidetrackedDiverted from main task
co-optedAbsorbed and neutralized
stolenTaken unlawfully

diverted · disrupted · sabotaged · undermined · subverted · manipulated · exploited · corrupted · twisted · appropriated

Opposites

control/possession

highjackedsurrendered

Ceased resistance formally

relinquished · yielded · handed over · given up · ceded

legitimacy of acquisition

highjackedpurchased

Acquired through payment

bought · chartered · leased · rented · licensed

agency/consent

highjackeddonated

Gave as a gift

offered · entrusted · lent · shared

Family

highjack, highjackings, highjacks, highjacker, highjacking

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG