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
  • Brown was seen in handcuffs after the incident, but no arrests were made at the time because police could not locate a victim, WPLG reported.
    Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Officers eventually placed the man into handcuffs after a struggle.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Stakeholders will closely monitor effects on private grocery chains, jobs, and the overall cost of living in the city.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Play Haus embraces child-like maximalism with candy-bright color palettes, cartoonish ceramics, paper chains, and a touch of chaos.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjackets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjackets. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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