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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Recent Examples of straitjacket
Most recently, the brand started making ‘straitjackets’ for swans and geese for transportation.
—
Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 31 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 31 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
-
He was transferred to home confinement in Philadelphia, the Bureau of Prisons told TMZ Thursday.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Her confinement was not the result of any criminal conduct, but of bureaucratic error compounded by institutional inertia.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The chain started with a single location in Rogers in 2017 and offers more than 20,000 drink combinations.—
John Magsam,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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The content creator dressed in a stunning array of jewels, a chain-style seashell dress from Paco Rabanne retailing for nearly $4,000, and a metallic purse.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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At one point, a trap even caught the wrong bear.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Both are rendered tonally with a darker hue of their namesake color appearing on the collar, mudguard, outsole and branding, bringing more après appeal to the winter hiker.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
7 Nov. 2025
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These slip-on shoes, $25 off, feature a fluffy genuine shearling collar, EVA soles, and a simple suede upper.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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