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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
  • The couple cited the COVID-19 confinement as having a negative impact on their relationship.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026
  • His public defender says Bonheur should get home confinement… for running a $7-million racket.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Layer it over dainty gold or silver chains for a maximalist jewelry moment.
    Kelsey Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • Once on the brink of collapse after a $300 million fraud scandal that forced it to delist from Nasdaq in 2020, the coffee chain has staged a sharp comeback.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • The heat wave is making a bad air-quality situation worse as a high-pressure system traps soot and fine particles close to the ground instead of dispersing them.
    Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The safety car came out to allow the Red Bull to be recovered from the gravel trap it was parked in.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Look at the jagged lines, the geometric shapes, the neon colour schemes, the tall collars, the billowing short sleeves.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • The collar makes your entire outfit look polished, even when styled with slouchy jeans.
    Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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