1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
some wild animals take to confinement very poorly
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries
the confinement of commercial development to one stretch of roadway is intended to help preserve the town's rural character
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Recent Examples of confinement
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
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
That implies near-total confinement to a cell, meals delivered through a slot in the door, little or no contact with other inmates, and limited recreation, usually alone.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors requested a 21-month prison sentence, but Minkler advocated three years probation or probation and home confinement instead of prison time.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confinement
Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
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
That implies near-total confinement to a cell, meals delivered through a slot in the door, little or no contact with other inmates, and limited recreation, usually alone.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors requested a 21-month prison sentence, but Minkler advocated three years probation or probation and home confinement instead of prison time.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confinement
Noun
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During his captivity, Salomon, who was multilingual, served as a translator between British and Hessian forces — convincing some of them to desert or turn to the American side.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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On Shabbat, the Acheinu, a prayer for liberating those held in captivity, was recited from the bimah, an elevated platform where sermons are often delivered.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Another patient had to switch to an injection because the pill’s dietary restrictions — which involve taking it with a small amount of water and waiting 30 minutes before eating or drinking — did not fit into their lifestyle, Hofflich said.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
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There’s something to be said of Augusta National’s cell-phone restriction this time every year.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
6 Apr. 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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There were some limitations to the surveillance, the agency acknowledged.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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When Ichimoku works best—and its limitations Ichimoku tends to work best in trending markets.—
Karl Montevirgen,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Her imprisonment became a cause celebre for many on the Right, and hopes were high for her appeal, but on Thursday, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed her conviction.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
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Most importantly, the legislation intensified punishments for those with prior convictions, with the worst offenders looking at a first-degree felony with up to 30 years imprisonment.—
Sean M. Cleary,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lorincz spoke out for the first time since her arrest, conviction and incarceration in a September 2025 interview with the local ABC affiliate WCJB.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
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As part of his plea deal, Epstein was allowed to spend the majority of his incarceration working out of the plush personal office, returning to the county jail each night.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On that same day, nearly 300 people were sent to the prison in El Salvador from the same Texas detention center, according to the American Immigration Council.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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Sacramento’s smallest zoo Alali now lives in Natomas with her fiancé, Alex Saraceno, along with Merlin; a girl group of rats named Monica, Moira and Amy; a former prison pigeon named Al Capone; a bearded dragon named Muffy; and a dog named Maverick.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confinement. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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