as in imprisoned
taken and held prisoner
incarcerated residents of that state are still allowed to vote in elections
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jailed
to put in or as if in prison
the state incarcerated over 1900 people last year
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 incarcerated
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
An incarcerated cop behind bars, he's got a lot of targets on his back, and Mike's coziness with the Crips can only help him so much.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
Advocates are sounding the alarm over these shower policies and other issues affecting incarcerated people at Bedford, alleging that the prison administration is violating federal and state laws.
—Sam Rabiyah, Them., 22 Dec. 2025
Carswell has been the subject of numerous investigations calling into question its treatment of incarcerated people.
—Kaley Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025
The number of incarcerated women increased by over 600 percent between 1980 and 2023, rising from a total of 26,326 in 1980 to 186,244 in 2023, The Sentencing Project said.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
As such, Hayes argued that the Speedy Trial Act does not apply in this case because LaSota is a pretrial detainee, jailed while awaiting criminal proceedings, as opposed to an incarcerated defendant serving a prior criminal conviction.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025
Hundreds of incarcerated people, making at most $10 a day, worked as firefighters for the state.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
For women incarcerated at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, that balance often feels abstract.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
The ultimate result would be a safer environment for the incarcerated, most of whom will return to society.
—Mary Buser, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
During a weeklong program last month, incarcerated men at Valley State Prison in the Central Valley town of Chowchilla sat on metal folding chairs in a common area.
—Haven Daley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Price’s decision in December to play for women incarcerated in a Tennessee penitentiary underlines her feminist bond with royalty such as Loretta Lynn and June Carter Cash.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
By requiring Dulce and her legal team to produce extraordinary volumes of proof to secure her release, the government has effectively shifted the burden onto United States citizens to affirmatively prove their citizenship while incarcerated.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Confusion surrounds the fate of the 800 to 900 political prisoners who remain incarcerated after the presidential elections on July 28, 2024.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
Kohberger is incarcerated for the remainder of his life at Idaho’s maximum security prison south of Boise.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 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
An incarcerated cop behind bars, he's got a lot of targets on his back, and Mike's coziness with the Crips can only help him so much.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
Advocates are sounding the alarm over these shower policies and other issues affecting incarcerated people at Bedford, alleging that the prison administration is violating federal and state laws.
—Sam Rabiyah, Them., 22 Dec. 2025
Carswell has been the subject of numerous investigations calling into question its treatment of incarcerated people.
—Kaley Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025
The number of incarcerated women increased by over 600 percent between 1980 and 2023, rising from a total of 26,326 in 1980 to 186,244 in 2023, The Sentencing Project said.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
As such, Hayes argued that the Speedy Trial Act does not apply in this case because LaSota is a pretrial detainee, jailed while awaiting criminal proceedings, as opposed to an incarcerated defendant serving a prior criminal conviction.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025
Hundreds of incarcerated people, making at most $10 a day, worked as firefighters for the state.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Burgueno-Luna spoke to the undercover agent for about two months while incarcerated in early 2023 and successfully sent 2,000 pills of fentanyl and nearly 900 grams of pure methamphetamine to Cherryville and Gaston County, court documents say.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
For women incarcerated at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, that balance often feels abstract.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
The ultimate result would be a safer environment for the incarcerated, most of whom will return to society.
—Mary Buser, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
During a weeklong program last month, incarcerated men at Valley State Prison in the Central Valley town of Chowchilla sat on metal folding chairs in a common area.
—Haven Daley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Price’s decision in December to play for women incarcerated in a Tennessee penitentiary underlines her feminist bond with royalty such as Loretta Lynn and June Carter Cash.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
By requiring Dulce and her legal team to produce extraordinary volumes of proof to secure her release, the government has effectively shifted the burden onto United States citizens to affirmatively prove their citizenship while incarcerated.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Confusion surrounds the fate of the 800 to 900 political prisoners who remain incarcerated after the presidential elections on July 28, 2024.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
Kohberger is incarcerated for the remainder of his life at Idaho’s maximum security prison south of Boise.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incarcerated
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
-
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
Verb
-
Khalil worked at the British embassy in Lebanon and interned for the United Nations.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
In this tale as old as time, local bookworm Belle (Paige O'Hara) travels to a faraway castle where her father is being held captive by a prince–turned–beastly creature.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Jackson was in Cuba to seek the release of some 22 Americans held captive as political prisoners.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incarcerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incarcerated. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
