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

The country’s remaining detention facilities are severely overcrowded while concerns have been raised about imprisoning gang members in parts of the country not currently under gang control. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026

Dubiously sourced accounts followed of Australians who died after drinking toad tea and a man supposedly being imprisoned in South America on toad-licking charges. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026

Baker and Obeidat penned a BBC News investigation on the website last year that confirmed he was imprisoned by the Assad regime. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026

Her earliest memories are of an underground bunker, patrolled by male guards with whips, where she was imprisoned with thirty-nine older women. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026