as in jailing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for locking (up)
Verb
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Another investigation was initiated the following year by the commission after Givens was accused of presiding over two criminal cases after she’d been recused, jailing a man in one case and revoking bond from another.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026 -
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
Verb
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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
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For decades, the Islamic Republic has neutered its domestic opposition, imprisoning its critics including former presidents.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Arellano joined the brand after interning and working his way into a full-time role, learning production before moving into design.—
J.M. Banks
March 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
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Cohen got an early jump on his entertainment career while interning for Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch’s Film Rights during high school.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Locking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locking%20%28up%29. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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