1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the offense is punishable by a fine or imprisonment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incarceration
the state of being held in lawful custody
the long years of imprisonment had taken their toll on his mind and spirit as well as his body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imprisonment
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
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
But during this particular imprisonment, something shifted.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.
—Babacar Dione, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
In an era of near continuous cruelty by the administration, the imprisonment of the boy and his father attracted massive media and political attention and eventually saw both released on February 1.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
In January 2025, the City Council’s finance committee took the final, substantive step to end Sierra’s 30-year journey from arrest to imprisonment to exoneration to compensation.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Political analyst Thomas Traumann, who has written books about Brazil’s political divisions, attributed de Moraes’ decision to grant Bolsonaro house imprisonment to political pressure over his links to the Banco Master scandal.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Dog Theft and the Law in China Dog theft is considered a criminal offense in China, with potential fines or imprisonment depending on the animal’s value.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2026
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
But during this particular imprisonment, something shifted.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.
—Babacar Dione, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
In an era of near continuous cruelty by the administration, the imprisonment of the boy and his father attracted massive media and political attention and eventually saw both released on February 1.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
In January 2025, the City Council’s finance committee took the final, substantive step to end Sierra’s 30-year journey from arrest to imprisonment to exoneration to compensation.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Political analyst Thomas Traumann, who has written books about Brazil’s political divisions, attributed de Moraes’ decision to grant Bolsonaro house imprisonment to political pressure over his links to the Banco Master scandal.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Dog Theft and the Law in China Dog theft is considered a criminal offense in China, with potential fines or imprisonment depending on the animal’s value.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
-
During his captivity, Salomon, who was multilingual, served as a translator between British and Hessian forces — convincing some of them to desert or turn to the American side.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
On Shabbat, the Acheinu, a prayer for liberating those held in captivity, was recited from the bimah, an elevated platform where sermons are often delivered.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
An error in a legal brief could lead to an innocent person’s incarceration.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
His family moved to Reno, Nevada, to avoid the Japanese internment during World War II.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But detainees inside the Adelanto facility who called the Immigrant Defenders rapid response hotline alleged that medical staff didn’t respond until after Ramos was unresponsive and that Ramos died inside the immigration detention facility, said an Immigrant Defenders spokesperson.—
Ryanne Mena,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The data shows another 130 detentions during a three-day December surge when then-Border Patrol Cmdr.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
He was beaten by security forces, arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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