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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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
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 2 Feb. 2026.
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