as in to imprison
to put in or as if in prison
the state incarcerated over 1900 people last year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 incarcerate
There have been a number of lawsuits over the years filed by people detained in local jails under this program – some for longer than they should have been incarcerated while awaiting ICE agents, NPR has previously reported.
—
Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
Officials say this led them to Faust, who officials said had been arrested and incarcerated multiple times in the years around Baker's murder.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
For younger Japanese Americans, many of them descendants of those incarcerated, the echoes of a traumatic family history resonate today.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The aunt further noted that the father was incarcerated at the time of the incident, indicating that the surviving child was left without either parent during the tragedy.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incarcerate
Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
Officials say this led them to Faust, who officials said had been arrested and incarcerated multiple times in the years around Baker's murder.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
For younger Japanese Americans, many of them descendants of those incarcerated, the echoes of a traumatic family history resonate today.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The aunt further noted that the father was incarcerated at the time of the incident, indicating that the surviving child was left without either parent during the tragedy.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incarcerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incarcerate
Verb
-
Even today, families continue searching for loved ones, uncertain whether they are imprisoned or dead.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Navalnaya said her husband exhibited no instances of heart disease before he was imprisoned.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He was jailed in January 2021 and moved to an Arctic penal colony in late 2023.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
For example, Yasser Abu Shabab, the now-deceased head of one of the gangs, reportedly escaped prison, where he was jailed for drug smuggling.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incarcerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incarcerate. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
