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
The first three weeks saw an 8-year-old aerialist, a 74-year-old comedian, a laser-performing duo from Vietnam and a Las Vegas magician who hung from the ceiling in a straitjacket.
—
Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Mikey struggles to keep up with the two Gucci duffels wrapped around his shoulders like a straitjacket.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Known for its aggressive high-top design, the Air Max2 CB 94’s key features include elastic straps on the tongue said to be inspired by straightjackets, a nod to Barkley’s volatile reputation in the ‘90s.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
But the peace forged at Dayton bound Bosnia in a straitjacket that has kept it divided since.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Mikey struggles to keep up with the two Gucci duffels wrapped around his shoulders like a straitjacket.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Known for its aggressive high-top design, the Air Max2 CB 94’s key features include elastic straps on the tongue said to be inspired by straightjackets, a nod to Barkley’s volatile reputation in the ‘90s.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
But the peace forged at Dayton bound Bosnia in a straitjacket that has kept it divided since.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
-
Most of the defendants pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy and cyberstalking and were later sentenced to prison terms or home confinement.—
Leah Willingham,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The lyrics string together repetitive and mostly generic metaphors comparing love to death and commitment to confinement.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With new openings in Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Robert De Niro and his business partners are expanding Nobu’s hotel chain across Europe fast.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Olympic medals weren’t designed to be worn around the neck until 1960, when a laurel-leaf chain was introduced in Rome, and subsequently ribbons became standard.—
Eric Sullivan,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But having dodged the traps of the social media news era, The Economist now faces looming long-term structural challenges that may be more difficult to avoid.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The teeth on the lower jaw protrude and interlock between those on the upper jaw, making for a deadly fish trap, UChicago said.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Once the heavy portion is removed, finish with a clean cut where the branch meets the trunk, being careful not to injure the branch collar.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
His costumes alone are a wonder, a series of bell-bottom jumpsuits, many of them accented with elegant high, Revolutionary War-era collars and cinched with macramé belts, their fringe swinging in time with his hips.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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