LOCKED (UP) Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

locked (up)

verb

past tense of lock (up)

as in imprisoned

to put in or as if in prison if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for locked (up)

Verb

Prior to the ⁠verdict, the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organization that promotes press ⁠freedom worldwide, said 29 journalists were imprisoned in Russia in connection with their work.

— Reuters, NBC news, 29 July 2026
The precise number of Americans currently imprisoned or prevented from leaving Iran remains unclear.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of imprisoned

Verb

Porter County Sheriff's Office records show Dolnics remained jailed without bond on July 29.

— Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter who was convicted on phony espionage charges and jailed for 544 days, might beg to differ with Blumenthal’s analysis.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

Definition of jailed

Verb

One of our young people in Tulsa, Oklahoma, interned at a company in their risk management department.

— Byron V. Garrett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Truell, a New York City native, interned at Google, while Sanger, a member of MIT’s squash team, interned at Bridgewater Associates.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 June 2026

Definition of interned

Verb

Whether you are already incarcerated or dead, you will be found.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Goodwill notes that 86 cents of every dollar spent goes toward job training, career coaching, and housing support for local veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, unhoused residents, and people with developmental disabilities.

— Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

Definition of incarcerated

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.

Browse Nearby Words

locked out

locked (up)

locker

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Locked (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locked%20%28up%29. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of locked (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

spindrift

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes