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

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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

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 Due to their tiny size, roughly 4 nanometers across, quantum confinement breaks their energy levels into discrete steps rather than a continuous chunk. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 Last week, Lichter filed a petition of habeas corpus, challenging Morales Rojas’ arrest and confinement at the ICE immigration detention facility in Aurora. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 July 2026 Primary confinement boundary for plasma The vacuum vessel serves as the primary confinement boundary for the fusion plasma inside the reactor. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026 Even the same people who bred Flaco for captivity stumble through answers about why keeping wild animals in confinement is, somehow, the right choice for them. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 July 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 raiders’ prisoners are saved by Titus, a young man on a mysterious quest of his own, but once Bria is freed from captivity, Titus leaves her to fend for herself in the wilderness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Guthrie’s death is unconfirmed, as no proof of her captivity or death has been provided by her abductors.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 31 July 2026
Definition of captivity
Noun
  • Iranian lawmakers have drafted a bill to regulate traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, including restrictions on certain vessels and penalties for violators, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Russia -- one of the world's largest oil producers -- has introduced a swath of restrictions on petrol sales across the country, as Ukrainian strikes on its refineries, depots and logistics crimp domestic supply.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • Established in 1855 as a military post to fight against the Mescalero Apache, the fort went on to play a minor role in the Civil War and later served as a tuberculosis sanitorium and a World War II internment camp.
    — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026
  • The Rohingya still living in Myanmar face severe restrictions and many are confined to internment camps.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of internment
Noun
  • Research suggests collagen can improve skin hydration and elasticity, though studies are small and have many limitations.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Small drones often face one unavoidable limitation of battery power.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of limitation
Noun
  • Anyone possessing marijuana for personal use can be jailed for a month, while distribution and sales are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment depending on the amount seized.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities say the man was charged with one count of assaulting the crew of an aircraft, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; as well as one count of common assault, which carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of imprisonment
Noun
  • The poll, commissioned by the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit working to end mass incarceration, was conducted shortly after ICE agents shot and killed two immigrants during traffic stops in Maine and Texas over the span of six days in July.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • However, just before an August 2025 hearing, the filing states, the families learned Butler would not agree to plead guilty or to incarceration at a juvenile facility after all.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of incarceration
Noun
  • Linares-Rea faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and two years for each identity theft count, prosecutors said.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sandford pleaded guilty to federal firearm and disruption charges and was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of prison

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Cite this Entry

“Confinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confinement. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on confinement

Nglish: Translation of confinement for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confinement

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