straitjacket

variants also straightjacket
as in confinement
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 straitjacket At San Clemente, a much bigger operation tasked the women with lace-making, laundering, cooking and sewing the straitjackets that were used at both institutions. Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025 So now, even the bankers are wriggling out of Carney’s globalist climate straitjacket. Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025 Basketball teams in an 0-3 straitjacket like the Heat are 0-118 all-time on advancing. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2025 The state of the economy and Trump’s political standing in the medium term will be largely determined by whether Trump can Houdini his way out of a tariff straitjacket of his own fashioning. The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
  • As a result, inmates who could be placed in community halfway houses or home confinement end up staying in prison longer than necessary.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • Microgravity, radiation, confinement and a change in sleep-wake cycles and can exert pressure on cells, driving lower immune systems and making astronauts more susceptible to being sick during or after missions.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • The Hustle reached out to some longtime independent swim school operators who hold board positions with the US Swim School Association to ask for their opinions on the influx of chains like Goldfish and others.
    Mark Dent, HubSpot, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Between dodging axe blades and wriggling free of chains, the limber lord explains his intent: to inspire people to face their own terrors.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Undervaluing Yourself To Avoid Conflict Many professionals, especially those early in their careers, fall into the trap of lowballing their worth out of fear.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • That’s the trap with a character like this — writing to a joke versus writing to her worldview and her attitude.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Look for signs of ownership like a collar or friendliness.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
  • Her shirtdress had layer-friendly buttons, a preppy collar, and a belt that accentuated her shape.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 28 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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