1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the offense is punishable by a fine or imprisonment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incarceration
the state of being held in lawful custody
the long years of imprisonment had taken their toll on his mind and spirit as well as his body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imprisonment
International human rights observers have long criticized his arrest, trial, and imprisonment.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Iranian authorities enforce laws like compulsory dress codes through Draconian forms of punishment — harassment, arrests, imprisonment, and violence.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Demetris Riley was charged on March 5 with first-degree intentional homicide, a Class A felony, which carries a sentence of imprisonment for life.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Under the law unhoused people could face fines or possible imprisonment.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 6 Mar. 2026
Jeff Rosen said O’Connor would face at least 30 years of imprisonment pending aggravating factors still to be considered by a judge on March 11.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The pending charges are armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felonious assault, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
In Illinois, vandalism resulting in $500 or less in damage is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and imprisonment less than a year.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Iranian authorities enforce laws like compulsory dress codes through Draconian forms of punishment — harassment, arrests, imprisonment, and violence.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Demetris Riley was charged on March 5 with first-degree intentional homicide, a Class A felony, which carries a sentence of imprisonment for life.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Under the law unhoused people could face fines or possible imprisonment.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 6 Mar. 2026
Jeff Rosen said O’Connor would face at least 30 years of imprisonment pending aggravating factors still to be considered by a judge on March 11.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The pending charges are armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felonious assault, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
In Illinois, vandalism resulting in $500 or less in damage is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and imprisonment less than a year.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
-
Iran’s first act of war against us was the 1979 seizure of the embassy in Tehran and the humiliating 444-day captivity of American diplomats.—
Elan Journo,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Light on plot but lush in atmosphere, this sometimes mesmerizing, sometimes frustrating play examines how these two artistic souls — Maria Celia is a writer, Sofia a pianist — endure their captivity.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The act requires that savings from reduced incarceration be directed toward victim services, community corrections and programs that support community reintegration for people who’ve been released from prison.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2026
-
But his six years of incarceration had failed to inspire any genuine contrition.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Walz ordered the flags to fly at half-staff immediately until sunset on the day of Amor's internment.—
Riley Moser,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Reynolds order will keep flags lowered until the day of internment for the soldiers.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is asking a federal court to immediately stop any construction or renovation of a warehouse that is being converted into an immigration detention facility near Hagerstown, Maryland.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Open positions include detention officer, recreation supervisor, certified medical assistant, psychiatrist, shift supervisor, assistant shift supervisor, master scheduler, locksmith, maintenance worker and human resource assistant.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The attack on the Michigan synagogue took place on the same day as a former Army National Guard member who served years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State group opened fire on a classroom at Old Dominion University in Virginia, killing one person and wounding two others.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The pair are believed to have been found guilty in an Iranian court of spying on behalf of both France and Israel and given long prison sentences, according to the BBC.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Save Our Bacon Act would negate California’s Proposition 12 and forbid states from making laws regarding animal confinement, according to a Harvard analysis.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison but served some of that time on home confinement.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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