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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 Forced to walk around, and even sleep, in a steel straightjacket with his neck permanently raised high, the once carefree Christophe begins to shut down to both his classmates and family. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 The icy straitjacket that kept the rocks from collapsing was no longer there. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 May 2026 In any other administration, straitjackets would be the mandatory dress code. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026 First Man, the Neil Armstrong biopic that is Chazelle’s second collaboration with Gosling, feels like watching Gosling act his way out of a straitjacket. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
  • As such, it could be easily exported to describe Jewish quarters elsewhere—and eventually adapted to describe sites of confinement or exclusion the world over.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In the 1925 novel, the appearance of fledglings symbolizes freedom, confinement and even spiritual rebirth, themes that follow lead characters Clarissa and Sally (whom Edebiri portrays) as the story unfolds.
    — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The contract covers engineering, technical assistance, technology integration, supply-chain development, workforce training and digital transformation initiatives.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • About 700 French supermarkets were affected, with one chain reporting losses of tens of millions of euros in a day; Dutch stores also faced a separate cybersecurity incident disrupting deliveries.
    — John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Sticky traps with dead insects on them were seen under dry storage area and on the side of a deep freezer.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These traps kill rats, but also gather information about movements and population sizes, according to the health district.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That includes bolstering blue collar work in manufacturing, natural resources, and supporting small businesses.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The public intellectual of the future won’t be wearing tweed or a button-down collar—the new uniform involves a coach’s headset, or the pancake makeup from the greenroom of some sports network.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!