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 These wires cross on her stunning fourth album, Lux, whose artwork depicts the 33-year-old singer in a white nun’s habit and a straitjacket-ish top. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 Sometimes, Germayne Cunningham would tie Sanaa up using one of his large t-shirts as a makeshift straitjacket, Clark added. Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Some plaintiffs allege they were restrained in straitjackets for as long as 16 hours. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 For de Lagarde, just as Jewish law distracted from God’s grace, liberalism was a legal straitjacket that kept the German nation from expressing its true spirit. Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
  • Because confinement of the plasma in a stellarator is driven solely by the external magnets, modifying the shape and strength of the fields has a major impact on performance.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Jan. 2026
  • DaSilva was determined to be the primary trafficker and sentenced to a year of home confinement, and a fine of $10,000.
    Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The burger chain originally opened in 1982 near the corner of C Street and Elvas Avenue in East Sacramento, according to previous Bee reporting.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Maybe the implications of binding yourself in chains?
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Some people even shared old photos of Indigenous peoples wearing the hoods, noting that the originators of the design kept the fur outward to break cold wind and trap snow.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • At one point, a trap even caught the wrong bear.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This incredibly lightweight, breathable windbreaker jacket has an adjustable bungee cord collar and waist for a custom fit, as well as two large pockets at the front.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The men’s version of the brand’s classic crewnec has ribbing at the collar, cuff, and hem, and it’s made of fleece that’s soft to the touch.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

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