incarcerated 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈkär-sə-ˌrā-təd How to pronounce incarcerated (audio)
Definition of incarceratednext
as in imprisoned
taken and held prisoner incarcerated residents of that state are still allowed to vote in elections

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

incarcerated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of incarcerate
as in jailed
to put in or as if in prison the state incarcerated over 1900 people last year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 incarcerated
Adjective
Sixteen incarcerated people were hospitalized, including one who was transported by helicopter, after lightning struck at a prison complex southwest of Cleveland, according to the Ohio Department of Corrections. — Laura Bargfeld, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Temporary relief from the pain of separation For many incarcerated people, separation from family and friends is one of the most painful aspects of life behind bars. — Jillian Turanovic, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Her biological father had been an inconsistent presence, and her mother was incarcerated. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 Nguyen has said one of her priorities in office is to protect and expand services for low-income, immigrant, formerly incarcerated and other vulnerable populations. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incarcerated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incarcerated
  1. imprisoned
  2. jailed
  3. arrested
  4. interned
  5. captive
Adjective
  • The company is required by its contract and state policy to provide mental health treatment, education and other services to imprisoned youth.
    — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Last year, the PKK — considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies — announced its decision to disband, following a call by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of imprisoned
Verb
  • Another suspect in the 2023 attacks, Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis, was jailed in Hungary for over a year following the assaults, resulting in a diplomatic dispute between Rome and Budapest over her treatment in detention.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Both were jailed on misdemeanor battery charges and have since been released.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of jailed
Adjective
  • In the case of the arrested teenager, who was detained in early August, agents pulled him and another man out of a truck in the 7-Eleven parking lot.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrested
Verb
  • Peyton Stewart was a 21-year-old international business major who grew up with her sister in Westwood, New Jersey, studied abroad in London and interned at TikTok.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Johnson hired a young Ossoff as a staffer on the recommendation of the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon Ossoff interned for and considered a mentor.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of interned
Adjective
  • The woman accused of keeping him captive, 58-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, is expected to head to trial after turning down two plea deals during a hearing in Waterbury Superior Court earlier this month.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • While captive whales often live only into their 30s, Marino said attributing their deaths to age fails to acknowledge the reality of why their lifespans are shorter.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of captive

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Cite this Entry

“Incarcerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incarcerated. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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