Synonyms of imprison

imprison

verb

im-ˈpri-zᵊn 

as in to jail

to put in or as if in prison

in this society, we try to imprison criminals so that they can't do any more harm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jail
• incarcerate
• detain
• confine
• intern
• restrain
• commit
• arrest
• lock (up)
• immure
• restrict
• catch
• capture
• shut
• apprehend
• constrain
• limit
• seize
• jug
• gate
• impress
• bind
• keep
• bar
• hold
• impound
• nab
• pinch
• enchain
• handcuff
• shackle
• bust
• fetter
• pick up
• manacle
• shanghai
• trammel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberate
• free
• release
• discharge
• emancipate
• enfranchise
• unchain
• unbind
• manumit
• unfetter
• uncage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of imprison

Trump ordered his government to invade Venezuela, imprison its President, elevate a more compliant one, and start extracting that nation’s oil and gold. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026

In southern India, Diwali celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Naraka, who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. — ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

Most of these people were freed through habeas corpus petitions, which let detainees challenge the government’s legal right to imprison them. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 6 Nov. 2026

Tundu Lissu was acquitted of treason charges but imprisoned nonetheless in a trial that rights groups said was meant to silence opposition to Tanzania’s government. — Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026