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
Gracie then secured my other hand, leaving me in a straitjacket position.
—
Sam Eagan, New Yorker, 29 July 2025
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
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
Sam Eagan, New Yorker, 29 July 2025
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
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 his grisly crimes were uncovered, Gein spent his final years in psychiatric confinement far from the farmhouse that once horrified the nation.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Forbidden from leaving their individual hotel rooms, the crew slowly come to terms with the state of indefinite confinement.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Publix spokeswoman Lindsey Willis sent the Miami Herald a statement about the supermarket chain’s decision.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The actual music files live permanently on the Arweave blockchain, while all payments are handled on the Solana chain, famously the hub of the current meme coin frenzy.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
An animal control office set up humane traps at the distribution center, where photos of Francine were posted throughout.—
John Raby,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The 2025 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded for the creation of metal-organic frameworks, molecular structures that can capture CO₂, filter pollutants from water, or trap moisture from desert air.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The preppy style is available in brown and olive green shades, both of which feature corduroy detailing around the collar.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The pieces have tonal text blocks, laser-etchings, as well as streamlined collars to emphasize design simplicity and purpose.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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