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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straitjacket
As the rangers discovered, what is planned for today might become tomorrow's straitjacket.
—
Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Determining just when a clear identity becomes a tactical straitjacket is a fine line to walk.
—Nancy Froston, New York Times, 30 June 2025
But the movie never busts out of its tame, slightly cheeky straitjacket, and the smoothness of its execution can be a bit cozy at times.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Cold War history has become a straitjacket constraining how Americans perceive the world.
—Justin Winokur, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Determining just when a clear identity becomes a tactical straitjacket is a fine line to walk.
—Nancy Froston, New York Times, 30 June 2025
But the movie never busts out of its tame, slightly cheeky straitjacket, and the smoothness of its execution can be a bit cozy at times.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Cold War history has become a straitjacket constraining how Americans perceive the world.
—Justin Winokur, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
-
After the rapper was found not guilty of three of the counts in the federal indictment, his attorney argued that he should be sent to home confinement.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The two Tucson residents pleaded guilty in federal court in 2009, where one was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and the other to six months of home confinement and 100 hours of community service.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By the end of the year, the grocery store and home goods chain will have opened eight new supercenters and neighborhood markets across the United States, Charles Crowson, a Walmart spokesperson, told USA TODAY this week.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Amazon debuted its Fresh grocery chain in 2020, with an eye toward mass-market shoppers.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Like the noon window, there are a couple other trap games to consider here.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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But there are specific pointers for ensuring your trap catches the intruder.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Riddle then grabbed Quirke by the collar and threw him down onto a table before walking off the set with a TMZ championship belt.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
And her chihuahua, Betty, had pink glittery nails and a pink glittery collar, and her shiny name tag.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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