confinement

noun

kən-ˈfīn-mənt How to pronounce confinement (audio)
Definition of confinementnext
1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined some wild animals take to confinement very poorly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confinement The counterculture promised liberation from such confinement. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026 Judge Kimberly Gallant said he must be fitted with an ankle monitor before his release and will then spend his time in home confinement. — Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Type One Energy’s approach is built around stellarator confinement. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 But the years of confinement began to take their toll physically. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confinement
  1. captivity
  2. restriction
  3. internment
  4. limitation
  5. imprisonment
  6. incarceration
  7. prison
Noun
  • The last thylacine living in captivity died from exposure in 1936 at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, Tasmania — shortly after the Tasmanian government belatedly granted the species protected status.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • According to the Corps, an estimated 600 Azov brigade servicemen are among the thousands still in Russian captivity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of captivity
Noun
  • That’s where the Senate bill comes in, with prohibitions on pro athletes playing college sports, firm limits on eligibility and transfers, restrictions on some conference realignment, and a higher cap on schools’ spending to pay and retain athletes.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its enactment comes at a time when Big Tech, in the face of mounting legal challenges, has shown greater willingness to accept new restrictions.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • Aliens land in Johannesburg in 1982 seeking refuge, but instead they're crammed into an internment camp called District 9.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Matsui’s response centered on her family’s history in a Japanese internment camp.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of internment
Noun
  • When Gansey’s new group began plotting the offseason, their financial limitations seemed clear.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The analysis gives every product listing equal weight and does not separately assess whether polyester is virgin or recycled—limitations that complicate comparisons among fast-fashion, activewear and outdoor brands.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of limitation
Noun
  • Indecent exposure to a minor under the age of 15 is also a Class 6 felony, resulting in a Class 6 felony as well, which is a far more serious crime resulting in imprisonment in state or federal prison.
    — Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • During her imprisonment, Stötzer refused to leave the GDR for West Germany under the Häftlingsfreikauf program, which offered ransoms for political prisoners.
    — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of imprisonment
Noun
  • That, and the at-arm’s-length care of the staff (who are sometimes comedically cold), makes existence within the ward feel like a close cousin to incarceration.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • For generations, the women sustain a world of warmth and care amid what Fleetwood calls a family curse, as the men’s lives are beset by mass incarceration and rampant gun violence.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of incarceration
Noun
  • Lee Cheuk-yan was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Chow Hang-tung was sentenced to seven years and three months.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
  • It wasn't immediately known how many people were in the prison at the time of the strikes, which also left seven people injured.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of prison

Browse Nearby Words

confined
confinement
confinements
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confinement. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on confinement

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confinement

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All