variants
also straightjacket
as in confinement
a jacket that has long arms which can be tied together behind someone's back and that is used to control the movement (as of a violent prisoner or patient)
The magician struggled to free his arms from the straitjacket and escape from the tank of water he was submerged in.
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Recent Examples of straitjacket
These wires cross on her stunning fourth album, Lux, whose artwork depicts the 33-year-old singer in a white nun’s habit and a straitjacket-ish top.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Sometimes, Germayne Cunningham would tie Sanaa up using one of his large t-shirts as a makeshift straitjacket, Clark added.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Some plaintiffs allege they were restrained in straitjackets for as long as 16 hours.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
For de Lagarde, just as Jewish law distracted from God’s grace, liberalism was a legal straitjacket that kept the German nation from expressing its true spirit.
—Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Sometimes, Germayne Cunningham would tie Sanaa up using one of his large t-shirts as a makeshift straitjacket, Clark added.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Some plaintiffs allege they were restrained in straitjackets for as long as 16 hours.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
For de Lagarde, just as Jewish law distracted from God’s grace, liberalism was a legal straitjacket that kept the German nation from expressing its true spirit.
—Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
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Detainers are federal requests to local law enforcement to detain individuals for up to 48 hours after they're set to be released from criminal confinement — which gives ICE time to decide whether to take them into custody to begin deportation proceedings.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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As a result of the parents' confinement, the family dog also only goes outside in a limited capacity.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But as coffee has taken off in China, traditionally a tea-drinking market, Starbucks has run into a slew of competitors from boutique cafes to chains such as Cotti Coffee and Manner — which often sell drinks at half the price as Starbucks.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
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As of Friday morning, the 99 Ranch Market, one of the largest Asian supermarket chains with 54 stores across 10 states including California, was boarded up and closed to the public.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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In the bottom of your dishwasher, there’s a small trap that’s meant to catch food particles and debris that’s rinsed off your plates during the wash cycle.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Worn by Austin Butler, Ben Affleck, Kit Connor, and just about every cool menswear guy out there, it’s made from organic cotton canvas and finished with a corduroy collar.—
Adam Cheung,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
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These sets come in a variety of styles, most of which include a preppy collar and button front.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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