variants
also straightjackets
as in handcuffs
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 straitjackets
Known for its aggressive high-top design, the Air Max2 CB 94’s key features include elastic straps on the tongue said to be inspired by straightjackets, a nod to Barkley’s volatile reputation in the ‘90s.
—
Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
Some plaintiffs allege they were restrained in straitjackets for as long as 16 hours.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
Some plaintiffs allege they were restrained in straitjackets for as long as 16 hours.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjackets
Noun
-
They were placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a car while FBI agents searched their home and took items such as computers, cell phones and some paper documents, according to the newspaper.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
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Officers caught up to the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest but was eventually placed in handcuffs.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In another email to city leaders, Cook said Halvorson’s choice of a primary care physician was denied, and the family was told to use a doctor with Concentra or CareNow, nationwide chains offering occupational health care and urgent care services.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Mar. 2026
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Sacramento’s airport is the site of a brand-new store concept for one of the world’s largest coffee chains.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Throughout these pages, Hutchinson expresses a deep love of prose, of its grand possibilities and subtle confinements.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straitjackets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjackets. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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