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
Tasha Beamon, 48, was charged with vulnerable adult abuse and unlawful imprisonment.
—
Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The co-conspirator was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his involvement in Schiller's kidnapping and Jorge Delgado got 15.
—Troy Roberts, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
There are countless cases in which federal courts found harsh and inadequate conditions of imprisonment that violate the Constitution.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
Her imprisonment became a cause celebre for many on the Right, and hopes were high for her appeal, but on Thursday, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed her conviction.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2026
Most importantly, the legislation intensified punishments for those with prior convictions, with the worst offenders looking at a first-degree felony with up to 30 years imprisonment.
—Sean M. Cleary, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
But during this particular imprisonment, something shifted.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.
—Babacar Dione, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
In an era of near continuous cruelty by the administration, the imprisonment of the boy and his father attracted massive media and political attention and eventually saw both released on February 1.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The co-conspirator was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his involvement in Schiller's kidnapping and Jorge Delgado got 15.
—Troy Roberts, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
There are countless cases in which federal courts found harsh and inadequate conditions of imprisonment that violate the Constitution.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
Her imprisonment became a cause celebre for many on the Right, and hopes were high for her appeal, but on Thursday, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed her conviction.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2026
Most importantly, the legislation intensified punishments for those with prior convictions, with the worst offenders looking at a first-degree felony with up to 30 years imprisonment.
—Sean M. Cleary, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
But during this particular imprisonment, something shifted.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.
—Babacar Dione, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
In an era of near continuous cruelty by the administration, the imprisonment of the boy and his father attracted massive media and political attention and eventually saw both released on February 1.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
-
Watani Stiner is a memoirist and former Black Power activist whose writing explores revolution, exile, captivity, and reconciliation with family and history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
-
He was brutally tortured during his captivity and held in solitary confinement for four of the years he was detained but stalwartly refused to provide the North Vietnamese with information.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lorincz spoke out for the first time since her arrest, conviction and incarceration in a September 2025 interview with the local ABC affiliate WCJB.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
-
As part of his plea deal, Epstein was allowed to spend the majority of his incarceration working out of the plush personal office, returning to the county jail each night.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Others flagged for removal included exhibits on slavery and civil rights, LGBTQ history, WWII-era internment camps, and Indigenous histories.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
-
His family moved to Reno, Nevada, to avoid the Japanese internment during World War II.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lawyers for the environmental groups argued that the detention site is operated under an agreement with the federal government, and detainees are considered subjects of the federal government, not the state.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this year, officials began enforcing a nationwide ban on electronic cigarettes, with penalties that can include confiscation, fines and even detention.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On that same day, nearly 300 people were sent to the prison in El Salvador from the same Texas detention center, according to the American Immigration Council.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Sacramento’s smallest zoo Alali now lives in Natomas with her fiancé, Alex Saraceno, along with Merlin; a girl group of rats named Monica, Moira and Amy; a former prison pigeon named Al Capone; a bearded dragon named Muffy; and a dog named Maverick.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the criminal confinement case, Page took a hammer on March 1 and broke glass on a dresser, telling the same victim to pick up the pieces.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Chavez, who once ran a ketamine clinic, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was sentenced to eight months home confinement in December 2025.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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