as in internment
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild
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Recent Examples of captivity
Seven village dogs, stolen from their homes, broke free from captivity and navigated more than 10 miles of unfamiliar highway together, protecting one another along the way.
—
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
In 2021, France banned whale and dolphin captivity and all of the animals must be moved by December 2026.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Iran’s first act of war against us was the 1979 seizure of the embassy in Tehran and the humiliating 444-day captivity of American diplomats.
—Elan Journo, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Light on plot but lush in atmosphere, this sometimes mesmerizing, sometimes frustrating play examines how these two artistic souls — Maria Celia is a writer, Sofia a pianist — endure their captivity.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
In 2021, France banned whale and dolphin captivity and all of the animals must be moved by December 2026.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Iran’s first act of war against us was the 1979 seizure of the embassy in Tehran and the humiliating 444-day captivity of American diplomats.
—Elan Journo, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Light on plot but lush in atmosphere, this sometimes mesmerizing, sometimes frustrating play examines how these two artistic souls — Maria Celia is a writer, Sofia a pianist — endure their captivity.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
Noun
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Others flagged for removal included exhibits on slavery and civil rights, LGBTQ history, WWII-era internment camps, and Indigenous histories.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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His family moved to Reno, Nevada, to avoid the Japanese internment during World War II.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Her imprisonment became a cause celebre for many on the Right, and hopes were high for her appeal, but on Thursday, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed her conviction.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
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Most importantly, the legislation intensified punishments for those with prior convictions, with the worst offenders looking at a first-degree felony with up to 30 years imprisonment.—
Sean M. Cleary,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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An error in a legal brief could lead to an innocent person’s incarceration.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The 1991 movie stars Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, the one-time public defender who Cady haunts, blaming his long prison incarceration for rape on purposefully faulty defense tactics.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Investigators also cited electronic monitoring data showing Pooh Shiesty was at the studio despite being on home confinement for a prior federal firearms conviction.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Shah is now on home confinement, having been released in December 2025 after serving nearly three years in prison.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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He was beaten by security forces, arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
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During his 12-year pontificate, Francis famously celebrated the Holy Thursday ritual by traveling to Rome-area prisons and refugee centers to wash the feet of people most on society’s margins.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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