1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
he was bored and frustrated by his incarceration in the quarantine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
sentenced to six months of incarceration for dealing in narcotics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incarceration
At the same time, Suzuki and Chandler became fascinated by Gordon Yamate’s own family’s story of incarceration.
—
Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The famed director and his wife formed a connection with Nanon Williams after watching a production of Lyrics From Lockdown — inspired by his story of incarceration — in Los Angeles in 2016, according to NBC News.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The show touches on Williams’ life and is based on his writings about injustice and mass incarceration in the US legal system.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Jan. 2026
Despite their felony convictions and impending incarcerations, both former Met police career criminals continue to collect their monthly kisses in the mail — $8,850 a month for Cederquist and $6,020 for Butner.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incarceration
Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The famed director and his wife formed a connection with Nanon Williams after watching a production of Lyrics From Lockdown — inspired by his story of incarceration — in Los Angeles in 2016, according to NBC News.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The show touches on Williams’ life and is based on his writings about injustice and mass incarceration in the US legal system.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Jan. 2026
Despite their felony convictions and impending incarcerations, both former Met police career criminals continue to collect their monthly kisses in the mail — $8,850 a month for Cederquist and $6,020 for Butner.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incarceration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incarceration
Noun
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After Liat Beinin Atzili and her husband Aviv were abducted by Hamas on October 7, Liat’s father Yehuda embarks on an uncertain mission to secure his daughter’s release while resisting pressure to use her captivity to justify escalating violence in Gaza.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
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Sharabi told Fox News Digital about his life after captivity.—
Rachel Wolf , Ronn Blitzer,
FOXNews.com,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The kidnapping itself was extremely violent, but for the first month of my imprisonment, I was not otherwise physically abused.—
Elizabeth Tsurkov,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
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Sharing unauthorized information about Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine war is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.—
Max Hastings,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Through a mix of fiction and nonfiction, Questions 27 & 28 introduces us to three generations of characters who were all impacted by FDR’s internment, a novelistic investigation of a shameful American chapter.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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In wartime Los Angeles, with Pearl Harbor still fresh in people's minds, and 120,000 Japanese Americans banished to internment camps, paranoia ran deep.—
David Alvarado,
Time,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Malliotakis has not been in contact with the family of Luckey-Lange, son of the late musician Diane Luckey, but initially reached out to the State Department after her office received inquiries about his detention from local and state media.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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No arrests, detentions or altercations with police were reported.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Department of Justice said Steven Anthony Cowles, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The two counts of second-degree assault could carry up to seven years in prison each, if convicted.—
PJ Green
January 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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He was transferred to home confinement in Philadelphia, the Bureau of Prisons told TMZ Thursday.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Her confinement was not the result of any criminal conduct, but of bureaucratic error compounded by institutional inertia.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incarceration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incarceration. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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