as in internment
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild
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Recent Examples of captivity
Julie Elie, an associate project scientist in the department of neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, now works with zebra finches in captivity after studying them in the wild.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Goldberg-Polin survived almost 11 months in underground tunnels following his capture but was killed alongside other hostages in August 2024, while still in captivity.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
In 1999, artificial breeding by a pair donated from China successfully led to the first Japanese crested ibis chick born in captivity, according to the Environment Ministry.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
The film centers on animal captivity at the controversial theme park, specifically an incident in which Tilikum, an aggressive orca, killed three people, including a SeaWorld trainer.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Goldberg-Polin survived almost 11 months in underground tunnels following his capture but was killed alongside other hostages in August 2024, while still in captivity.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
In 1999, artificial breeding by a pair donated from China successfully led to the first Japanese crested ibis chick born in captivity, according to the Environment Ministry.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
The film centers on animal captivity at the controversial theme park, specifically an incident in which Tilikum, an aggressive orca, killed three people, including a SeaWorld trainer.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
Noun
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During the special, Klepper travels to a peaceful nude bike rally against ICE internment camps holding people without due process.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 June 2026
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In California, language related to the internment of Japanese Americans at the Manzanar National Historic Site, as well as the history of Indigenous people in Death Valley and Muir Woods came under scrutiny.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Noun
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That sense of spiritual imprisonment may have another explanation.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
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The coup ended with the slaughter or imprisonment of most of its participants.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Noun
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In October, his children made heartfelt pleas to a New York federal judge to see their father released from federal lockup after more than a year of incarceration.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
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Expanding treatment courts would increase access to care, reduce unnecessary incarceration, and create pathways to recovery and stability.—
Justyna Rzewinski,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Vishnevski vows to appeal Vishnevski, 33, had been on home confinement at his mother's residence near Boston while awaiting trial.—
Molly Parker,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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The team played bass-heavy electronic music while slowly moving a microphone through and around the focal region to evaluate both sound quality and confinement.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 June 2026
Noun
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If convicted as charged, Wilburn faces up to 14 years in prison, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office told CNN.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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Pope was a lieutenant in the Special Investigative Service (SIS) unit at the prison at the time of the offenses.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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