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
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
The Ukrainian government then runs a search query, and replies with whether the subject is in Ukrainian captivity, has been confirmed dead, has been returned to Russia in a prisoner exchange, or is not included in any of those databases.
—Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
More than 100 Americans escaped foreign detention and captivity thanks to Jackson.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
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
The Ukrainian government then runs a search query, and replies with whether the subject is in Ukrainian captivity, has been confirmed dead, has been returned to Russia in a prisoner exchange, or is not included in any of those databases.
—Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
More than 100 Americans escaped foreign detention and captivity thanks to Jackson.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
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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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
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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
Noun
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On average, detention facilities daily now hold nearly 70,000 immigrants, a scale of mass detention not seen since the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans and nationals during World War II.—
Eric Westervelt,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2026
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Many of the deposits preceded Epstein’s incarceration at MCC.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
21 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
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
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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