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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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
-
The man eventually dropped the knife and was placed in handcuffs, according to the police report.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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The footage from the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows the legendary golfer undergoing a field sobriety test, being placed into handcuffs and then driven from the scene in the back of the patrol vehicle following Friday's crash.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Here are a handful of restaurants, some of which are at least regional chains, in the area.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Iran has formed human chains in the past around its nuclear sites at times of heightened tensions with the West.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 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 8 Apr. 2026.
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