straitjackets

variants also straightjackets
plural of straitjacket
as in handcuffs
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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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of straitjackets Some plaintiffs allege they were restrained in straitjackets for as long as 16 hours. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjackets
Noun
  • Carpenter asked, as Fogelmanis smiled and held up his hands to receive the pink handcuffs.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Officials said the fire broke out at a Waldo’s store, a popular discount chains in Mexico.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Two additional deaths have been reported in a listeria outbreak linked to recalled ready-to-eat pasta salads and prepared meals sold at major grocery chains, including Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger, and Walmart, health officials said Thursday.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjackets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjackets. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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