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
  • Previously, a spokesperson said that the bureau does not discuss conditions of confinement or security procedures and that employee standards of conduct prohibit staff from giving any prisoners preferential treatment.
    Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 11 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, the ohmic-heating system drives electrical current through the plasma to raise temperatures and support confinement.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Any gap in the verification chain undermines the entire tokenization premise, potentially exposing buyers to greenwashing accusations.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The same can be said for a handful of menu items from one of our favorite casual dining chains, Chili’s, which has garnered some passionate fans through the years.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • How To Clean The Dishwasher Drain With Vinegar Cleaning your dishwasher drain trap requires a bit more care than cleaning your overall dishwasher.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
  • Iran laid traps and moved more military personnel and air defenses to Kharg, sources previously told CNN.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The wide surface area is ideal for ironing clothes and curtains, while the more pointed end should be used for carefully ironing out narrower sections, like collars and sleeves.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2025
  • This builds on the move to automate blue collar jobs by Caterpillar, John Deere and Oshkosh to reduce safety incidents and address the shortage of human labor in quarrying, mining, agriculture, airport logistics and garbage hauling.
    Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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