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!

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for locked (up)

Verb

Fogel was imprisoned in 2021, sentenced to 14 years on charges of possessing marijuana.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
But a few years later, after committing similar crimes there, he was arrested and imprisoned at the Château de Vincennes at the king’s orders, under a lettre de cachet (signet letter).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of imprisoned

Verb

His brother, Jianquan Bo, is now jailed on murder and kidnapping charges and has pleaded not guilty.

— Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Wednesday marked three years since Pakistan’s most popular politician, Imran Khan, was jailed on various charges after his relations with the military publicly broke down.

— Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of jailed

Verb

In 1941, Italian antifascists produced the Ventotene Manifesto (named for a small island where they were interned), calling for a federal socialist Europe.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Maney is a New Jersey native who once interned with radio shock jock Howard Stern and also worked with radio personality Elvis Duran.

— Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of interned

Verb

The New Jersey lockup where Agnello is incarcerated has housed some notable inmates over the years.

— Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
The flip side • Pleased to hear Volusia County Corrections Department has a vocational training program for reentry to the community for those who have been incarcerated.

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of incarcerated

Verb

For travelers, the designation puts a spotlight on a place where mythology isn't confined to museums and archaeological ruins.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
As Eakin details, the battles over theory weren’t confined to academia, said Jonathan Derbyshire in the Financial Times.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of confined

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locked out

locked (up)

locker

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Style

“Locked (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locked%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of locked (up)

verb

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