as in imprisoning
to put in or as if in prison
threatened to jail the punks if they so much as jaywalked
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 jailing
Maduro clamped down on dissent, jailing hundreds of activists, ordering government forces to fire on protesters and triggering another exodus of migrants.
—
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Symbolic political prisoner releases bring hope The Chavismo movement has been accused of jailing political prisoners for decades and holding them in the infamous Helicoide prison, controlled by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN).
—Flora Charner, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
There were massacres, suppression of speech, banning of political opposition, closing of non-Islamist press, jailing of opponents and public executions of political and religious enemies.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Many observers in Latin America do not regard Bukele’s approach—suspending constitutional rights such as due process and freedom of assembly, and jailing about two percent of the country’s adult population—as particularly problematic.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Sherrone Moore’s dismissal from the Michigan Wolverines football program and the ongoing controversy stemming from his jailing on Wednesday night has been a major point of discussion in the sports world.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Outside the federal police headquarters, some pro-Bolsonaro protesters held banners calling for Lula and de Moraes to be removed from their posts, while detractors of the former president celebrated his jailing.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Nov. 2025
But a federal lawsuit argues authorities are regularly jailing and deporting immigrants who are survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse and other crimes.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The state can fairly easily police the requirement that Max be installed on new phones by threatening phone companies that don’t comply or even jailing their executives.
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Symbolic political prisoner releases bring hope The Chavismo movement has been accused of jailing political prisoners for decades and holding them in the infamous Helicoide prison, controlled by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN).
—Flora Charner, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
There were massacres, suppression of speech, banning of political opposition, closing of non-Islamist press, jailing of opponents and public executions of political and religious enemies.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Many observers in Latin America do not regard Bukele’s approach—suspending constitutional rights such as due process and freedom of assembly, and jailing about two percent of the country’s adult population—as particularly problematic.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Sherrone Moore’s dismissal from the Michigan Wolverines football program and the ongoing controversy stemming from his jailing on Wednesday night has been a major point of discussion in the sports world.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Outside the federal police headquarters, some pro-Bolsonaro protesters held banners calling for Lula and de Moraes to be removed from their posts, while detractors of the former president celebrated his jailing.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Nov. 2025
But a federal lawsuit argues authorities are regularly jailing and deporting immigrants who are survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse and other crimes.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The state can fairly easily police the requirement that Max be installed on new phones by threatening phone companies that don’t comply or even jailing their executives.
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jailing
Verb
-
For decades, the Islamic Republic has neutered its domestic opposition, imprisoning its critics including former presidents.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Maduro ruled Venezuela's 28 million people as an autocrat, imprisoning his opposition and leaving the economy of an oil rich nation in shambles.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Take Lauryn Williams, a track and bobsled champion, who earned $200,000 a year at 20 years old, but ended up interning for $12 an hour at 30.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
After studying photography and interning for Attitude Magazine, Yardley naturally found his way into styling, first in the editorial space and then as an assistant for another celebrity stylist.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jailing. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
