straitjacket

variants also straightjacket
Definition of straitjacketnext
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

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 straitjacket Pierce wiggled, jumped, twisted, pulled, huffed and puffed his way out of that straitjacket, taking a little bow at the end. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026 The collection, all black save for splashes of red and silky cream and deep brown plum moments, wasn't worth the wait but had bright spots in utility-style vests and jackets, a black funnel-neck piece with tiers of straps down and around like a straightjacket. Anika Reed, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026 Burns becomes a foil and the butt of jokes of other doctors at the M*A*S*H unit until he is literally driven into a straitjacket. David Morgan, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026 Revenue concerns compared to their direct rivals can be offset by getting back into the Champions League, enabling the club to loosen the financial straitjacket and spend on the players Emery wants, regardless of their age. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
  • The other, Mark Chavez, was sentenced to three years of supervised release with special conditions of eight months of home confinement and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.
    Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 27 May 2026
  • Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was sentenced to eight months of home confinement in December 2025.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Family Dollar was cordoned off with chain link fencing, a small American flag placed on the fence.
    Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
  • Bode makes an impromptu decision to offer up his father's ring, which he's been wearing on a chain around his neck.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • The sea drones equipped with sonar produce a picture of objects under the water, from fishing traps to pipelines.
    Emma Burrows, Fortune, 24 May 2026
  • Many commercial traps contain an ingredient that attracts one kind of yellowjacket, but not all common types in the South, such as southern or German yellowjackets.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • Bring along a collar with identification, a favorite towel or blanket and a two-week supply of water and food.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
  • Huppert was wearing a glittery black dress with a white collar — a little severe, a little cheeky.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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