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
When Iranians elected a reformist president, Mohammed Khatami, in 1997, Khamenei hamstrung him by jailing cabinet ministers and shuttering friendly newspapers.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Mar. 2026
Most county-sheriff offices function much the way police departments do—investigating crimes, making arrests, and jailing people.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Orange County’s negotiations with the federal government to increase its reimbursement for jailing federal inmates and immigrant detainees could now last through the end of March.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Beijing’s national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of dissidents; forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband; and neutering the city’s once-raucous political scene.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
In 2024, the court said fining or jailing someone for sleeping outside when there are no available shelter beds doesn’t violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
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
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
The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Mar. 2026
Most county-sheriff offices function much the way police departments do—investigating crimes, making arrests, and jailing people.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Orange County’s negotiations with the federal government to increase its reimbursement for jailing federal inmates and immigrant detainees could now last through the end of March.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Beijing’s national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of dissidents; forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband; and neutering the city’s once-raucous political scene.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
In 2024, the court said fining or jailing someone for sleeping outside when there are no available shelter beds doesn’t violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jailing
Verb
-
Based on the way the regime is treating you and all these other political activists—imprisoning you all—what does that indicate about the regime?—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
For decades, the Islamic Republic has neutered its domestic opposition, imprisoning its critics including former presidents.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The governor’s bill would require any state agency charged with incarcerating people to follow the standards outlined in the federal law.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The announcement came as the House Rules Committee was considering resolutions to hold the Clintons in criminal contempt, which could have potentially led to the government imposing penalties and incarcerating them.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The fifth and sixth installments are loosely connected to this seventh film by the presence of the unusually tenacious twins Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown), who are inexplicably interning for Sidney’s longtime frenemy, journalist Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox).—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The fifth and sixth installments are loosely connected to this seventh film by the presence of the unusually tenacious twins Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown), who are inexplicably interning for Sidney’s longtime frenemy, journalist Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox).—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jailing. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
