1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the offense is punishable by a fine or imprisonment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incarceration
the state of being held in lawful custody
the long years of imprisonment had taken their toll on his mind and spirit as well as his body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
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Billy is often seen bobbing, pacing and swaying — all signs of brain damage caused by years of captivity, the organization said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025 -
The hostages have been in the captivity of militants in Gaza for more than 18 months.—
Natan Odenheimer,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Through deeply personal storytelling, the film highlights the generational impact of mass incarceration, the resilience of families, and the urgent need for systemic change.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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Many of the recipients are working on projects responding to issues including climate change, Indigenous studies, identity, democracy and politics, incarceration, and the evolving purpose of community.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The United States has a shameful history of detaining and deporting citizens, from the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II to more recent cases.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Musician and educator Harry Urata, confined to an internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, encountered Japanese-American workers who had processed sugar cane leaves on Hawaiian plantations since the late 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In a rare weekend ruling, Supreme Court justices blocked the Trump administration's plans to deport a group of Venezuelans held at a detention facility in Texas.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2025
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In Los Angeles, demonstrators protesting the Trump administration’s deportation policies rallied outside a downtown Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Life without parole for Highland Park shooter The man who killed seven people and wounded nearly 50 in a mass shooting in 2022 in Highland Park, Illinois, was sentenced April 24 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Petties was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 at age 36 for his trafficking career and connection to multiple homicides.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His wife, Kimberly Maddox, 44, was sentenced to 12 months, including time in home confinement.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2025
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Federal judge Reed O’Connor dismissed Tarrant County and six jailers listed as defendants from the lawsuit in early February, citing the plaintiffs’ failure to show that Johnson’s death was a result of conditions of confinement, such as overcrowding.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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