straitjackets

variants also straightjackets
Definition of straitjacketsnext
plural of straitjacket
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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjackets
Noun
  • He was kept in ‘shackles and handcuffs’ for sixteen hours.
    Steve Karnowski, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Boyd then put the shooter, Colt Gray, in handcuffs.
    Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Larger chains and brands are also offering refillable options and other innovations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • National chains such as Sears, Kmart, Radio Shack, Payless Shoes and HH Gregg have either shuttered locations or gone out of business altogether.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Throughout these pages, Hutchinson expresses a deep love of prose, of its grand possibilities and subtle confinements.
    Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjackets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjackets. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

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