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
Rio is currently the oldest ocelot in human care — a remarkable achievement for a species that typically lives far shorter lives in captivity.
—
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Voiced by Alfred Molina, Marcellus is an octopus who has been held in captivity at the Sowell Bay Aquarium for years.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Voiced by Alfred Molina, Marcellus is an octopus who has been held in captivity at the Sowell Bay Aquarium for years.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
Noun
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Among the most painful letters are those between Scheidt’s father and his brother, who would also spend time in internment camps.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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The few works in the show depicting Stojka’s experiences before and after internment capture the particularity of Romani life.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This personal and profound odyssey follows basketball star Brittney Griner from her playing career and harrowing imprisonment in Russia through the extraordinary geopolitical battle to secure her freedom.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
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The Chinese natives are currently incarcerated at the Ventura County Main Jail and the Todd Road Jail, respectively, and face up to four years’ imprisonment followed by two years of probation.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Kids raised by single mothers are, on average, at higher risk of poverty, incarceration, unemployment, and a range of other hardships.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
19 May 2026
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As of Monday, Davis, 63, was an inmate at Avenal State Prison in Kings County, according to state incarceration records.—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
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She likely won’t be sentenced until fall (possibly close to the general election) but will — again, just a likely here — at best face home confinement and at worst more than three years in prison.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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Taylor also mentioned harsh conditions during Chkhikvishvili's nearly yearlong confinement in Moldova, where he was arrested in 2024 on an international warrant, according to his letter to the judge.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Not only have books been pulled from shelves as a result of these efforts, but writers and publishers have found themselves in prison.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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On January 10, 2019, Denise and Mohamed were found guilty of nearly all charges; later that year, they were sentenced to seven years in prison.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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