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
Dog theft is considered a criminal offense in China, with potential fines or imprisonment depending on the animal’s value.
—
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
Dog Theft and the Law in China Dog theft is considered a criminal offense in China, with potential fines or imprisonment depending on the animal’s value.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet paved the way for Bolsonaro to be put in house imprisonment instead of returning to prison.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
De Moraes initially gave Bolsonaro 90 days of house imprisonment, which is extendable after another medical report.
—Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Should anyone ever find themselves in a real jam, like imprisonment by a vengeful pharaoh or life-threatening thirst, God pops by long enough to get the story back on track.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026
Interrogation footage of their imprisonment is played from a compact disc on their laptop and refilmed by a handheld camera; the closeup camera lingers on their bodies – retelling the skin as a map with its own markings.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
The government of Dubai has also told travelers to refrain from taking or sharing videos and photos of military activity (including incident sites and debris), which could result in fines, imprisonment, or deportation under UAE law.
—Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
In Acts, the disciple Paul endures several imprisonments, turning to God for strength and divine intervention.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
Dog Theft and the Law in China Dog theft is considered a criminal offense in China, with potential fines or imprisonment depending on the animal’s value.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet paved the way for Bolsonaro to be put in house imprisonment instead of returning to prison.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
De Moraes initially gave Bolsonaro 90 days of house imprisonment, which is extendable after another medical report.
—Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Should anyone ever find themselves in a real jam, like imprisonment by a vengeful pharaoh or life-threatening thirst, God pops by long enough to get the story back on track.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026
Interrogation footage of their imprisonment is played from a compact disc on their laptop and refilmed by a handheld camera; the closeup camera lingers on their bodies – retelling the skin as a map with its own markings.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
The government of Dubai has also told travelers to refrain from taking or sharing videos and photos of military activity (including incident sites and debris), which could result in fines, imprisonment, or deportation under UAE law.
—Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
In Acts, the disciple Paul endures several imprisonments, turning to God for strength and divine intervention.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
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The exhibition will also examine orca behavior, including social structures and communication, as well as issues such as captivity and the status of various populations, museum officials said.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Robert Rubsam on a novel about women who trade one kind of captivity for another.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
An error in a legal brief could lead to an innocent person’s incarceration.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The 1991 movie stars Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, the one-time public defender who Cady haunts, blaming his long prison incarceration for rape on purposefully faulty defense tactics.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Others flagged for removal included exhibits on slavery and civil rights, LGBTQ history, WWII-era internment camps, and Indigenous histories.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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His family moved to Reno, Nevada, to avoid the Japanese internment during World War II.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But detainees inside the Adelanto facility who called the Immigrant Defenders rapid response hotline alleged that medical staff didn’t respond until after Ramos was unresponsive and that Ramos died inside the immigration detention facility, said an Immigrant Defenders spokesperson.—
Ryanne Mena,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The data shows another 130 detentions during a three-day December surge when then-Border Patrol Cmdr.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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He was beaten by security forces, arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
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During his 12-year pontificate, Francis famously celebrated the Holy Thursday ritual by traveling to Rome-area prisons and refugee centers to wash the feet of people most on society’s margins.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Harpman, who died in 2012, was a psychoanalyst, and her writing is attuned to the psychic damage caused by confinement.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
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Chavez, who once ran a ketamine clinic, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was sentenced to eight months home confinement in December 2025.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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