as in arrested
taken and held prisoner
took up the cause of imprisoned political dissidents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jailed
to put in or as if in prison
in this society, we try to imprison criminals so that they can't do any more harm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 imprisoned
Dan Mangan, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
Elle Meier, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
The interim Venezuelan government has offered a token trickle of freedom to opposition prisoners since the capture of former dictator Nicolas Maduro, but hundreds remain imprisoned.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
According to Venezuelan journalist and former political prisoner Luis Carlos Díaz, detainees of at least 25 nationalities are imprisoned in some 90 jails.
—Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
No mention of the thousands of Iranians imprisoned in the past few days or thousands of Iranians executed for daring to speak their minds.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
He was imprisoned from 2006 to 2015 for that assault.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi remains imprisoned by authorities after her arrest in December.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
He was charged with seven crimes and spent four months imprisoned in Tocorón jail.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
Unlike her previous detention, when she was permitted to reside at home and allowed some communication with family, she is now imprisoned in an unknown location.
—Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Habeas petitions are, as a rule, the last option for an imprisoned person to void their convictions.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
Verb
The royal family was captured in Varennes and imprisoned; the king and queen were later executed.
—Elle Meier, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
The interim Venezuelan government has offered a token trickle of freedom to opposition prisoners since the capture of former dictator Nicolas Maduro, but hundreds remain imprisoned.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
According to Venezuelan journalist and former political prisoner Luis Carlos Díaz, detainees of at least 25 nationalities are imprisoned in some 90 jails.
—Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
No mention of the thousands of Iranians imprisoned in the past few days or thousands of Iranians executed for daring to speak their minds.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
He was imprisoned from 2006 to 2015 for that assault.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi remains imprisoned by authorities after her arrest in December.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
He was charged with seven crimes and spent four months imprisoned in Tocorón jail.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
Unlike her previous detention, when she was permitted to reside at home and allowed some communication with family, she is now imprisoned in an unknown location.
—Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisoned
Verb
-
Yoon, currently jailed after his removal from office in April, faces multiple trials; experts predict life imprisonment rather than execution is more likely.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Jonathon Michael Kaupa, 31, is jailed and charged in Ramsey County District Court with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbings at Equinox Apartments located in the 2800 block of Silver Lane, just west of Silver Lake Road.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In place of Debicki’s haunted Jed, who was Roper’s girlfriend-slash-captive and Pine’s love interest, Season 2’s combination of femme fatale and Bond girl is Roxana Bolaños, a gorgeous businesswoman played by Camila Morrone.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of Venezuela choosing its partners based on price or quality, the state has created a captive customer.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In 2005, McKee began medical school at Ohio State University and interned at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center starting in 2014, records show.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Scott moved to New York City and attended the Culinary Institute of New York in 2009, and later interned at the Food Network.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Carr's office cited several Georgia cases, including one in Tattnall County where an incarcerated gang leader used a contraband phone to order a hit that killed an 88-year-old veteran.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Today, in the large courtroom on the fifth floor of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, the incarcerated defendant was present, clothed in prison garb.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imprisoned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisoned. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
