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
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Recent Examples of imprisonment
Still grieving the death of his wife and the imprisonment of his son, Brandis binges on booze but possesses a sharp and intuitive mind, even if his family life is in disarray.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
The two men care for each other amidst the squalid conditions of their imprisonment in 1970s Argentina.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
Hernandez, chronicling the delusions that drove him into the arms of the law, demonstrates how imprisonment can begin far before sentencing.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Another would impose a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days imprisonment as a penalty for camping outdoors on public property.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Saudi journalists responded in kind, with one reportedly linked to the Saudi crown prince predicting the end of President Sisi's rule and potential imprisonment by 2026.
—Khaled Hassan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
North Carolina classifies bigamy as a Class I felony, and the charge can result in imprisonment for anyone who knowingly marries while still legally married to another person.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
That sense of spiritual imprisonment may have another explanation.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Vogel also advocated for the passage of legislation that eventually acknowledged the injustice of the exile and imprisonment and provided a payment of $20,000 to Japanese American camp survivors.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
The two men care for each other amidst the squalid conditions of their imprisonment in 1970s Argentina.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
Hernandez, chronicling the delusions that drove him into the arms of the law, demonstrates how imprisonment can begin far before sentencing.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Another would impose a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days imprisonment as a penalty for camping outdoors on public property.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Saudi journalists responded in kind, with one reportedly linked to the Saudi crown prince predicting the end of President Sisi's rule and potential imprisonment by 2026.
—Khaled Hassan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
North Carolina classifies bigamy as a Class I felony, and the charge can result in imprisonment for anyone who knowingly marries while still legally married to another person.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
That sense of spiritual imprisonment may have another explanation.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Vogel also advocated for the passage of legislation that eventually acknowledged the injustice of the exile and imprisonment and provided a payment of $20,000 to Japanese American camp survivors.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
-
At his request, his appearance was not announced in advance so the focus could remain on Omer Shem Tov’s spiritual journey during captivity.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Cervantes’ captivity brought him in contact with Muslim culture.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But my incarceration now, like my glorious delusion then, cannot quell that yearning for something more.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The mix of short-term detainees and long-haul prisoners makes SeaTac a unique microcosm of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), where courtroom drama and the gritty realities of incarceration meet under one roof.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ameya sits down with her neighbor's 84-year-old grandmother, who was forced out of California and sent to an internment camp in Wyoming as a young girl.—
Steve Drummond,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The worst part of the internment was its indeterminacy.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
More Than a Chaplain Within a few hours of Soliman’s detention, dozens showed up for an impromptu rally and news conference in the ICE center parking lot.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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Critically, American surveillance technologies allowed a brutal mass detention campaign in the far west region of Xinjiang — targeting, tracking and grading virtually the entire native Uyghur population to forcibly assimilate and subdue them.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
My dad would always play documentaries about prison life and stuff that would come on Discovery ID or, every now and then, even national news segments.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Through the deal, prosecutors dropped the two murder charges — and shipped Henry, 26, off to prison for 10 years — in exchange for his plea.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a population already at higher risk of illness due to stress and confinement, these oversights can quickly escalate into medical emergencies.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Discontent with confinement and mistreatment, some attempt to escape and even attack their peers.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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