pressganged
Drafted against will
Pressganged means forced into service, originally referring to the historical practice of impressment—seizing men and compelling them to serve in the navy.
The term now applies broadly to being coerced into any unwanted task or role: I got pressganged into organizing the office party.
Also spelled press-ganged.
Coerced into ship service
- crimpPinch into folds
- admiraltyLaw of the seas
- deckhandShip's manual laborer
- galleyOnboard food preparation area
mast · sailor · fleet · ship · maritime · seafaring · vessel · captain
Made to occur unwillingly
- compelledMade to act
- dragoonedForced into service
- intimidatedMade fearful by threat
- bulliedRepeatedly mistreated by aggressors
threatened · blackmailed · extorted · strongarmed · overpowered · manipulated · inveigled · subjugated
Unwilling to act
- resistantWithstanding external forces
- unconsentingNot having agreed
- nonconsensualWithout voluntary agreement
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
captive · coerced · abducted · snatched · kidnapped · trapped · helpless · powerless
Enlisted by requirement
- enlistedSigned up formally
- recruitedBrought into service
- leviedImposed by authority
- mobilizedAssembled for action
inducted · commandeered · requisitioned · mustered · called up · summoned · seized · compulsory
shanghaied
Coerced into ship service
galley · mast · sailor · fleet · ship · maritime · seafaring · vessel · captain · conscript
forced
Made to occur unwillingly
- compelledMade to act
- dragoonedForced into service
- intimidatedMade fearful by threat
bullied · threatened · blackmailed · extorted · strongarmed · overpowered · manipulated · inveigled · subjugated · dominated
reluctant
Unwilling to act
- resistantWithstanding external forces
- unconsentingNot having agreed
- nonconsensualWithout voluntary agreement
involuntary · captive · coerced · abducted · snatched · kidnapped · trapped · helpless · powerless · victimized
drafted
Enlisted by requirement
mobilized · inducted · commandeered · requisitioned · mustered · called up · summoned · seized · compulsory · involuntary
pressgangedvolunteered
Gave services unpaid
signed up · enlisted · self-selected · opted in · recruited