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
Eldan's organization worked with a state senator to help write and pass a law in Delaware that provides compensation for wrongful imprisonment, as well as a stipend and help with housing, food benefits, and health and dental insurance.
—
ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Prominent Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut was freed Tuesday in a 10-person prisoner swap involving Belarus and Poland, ending his eight-year imprisonment.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The first – a public nuisance offense – is punishable by up to three months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars (about $1,570).
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Further out, a cemetery monument stands in honor of the 150 people who died at the camp during their imprisonment.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
Government figures say more than 8,000 people have benefited from the amnesty so far, most of whom were already subject to some form of restricted freedom rather than full imprisonment.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
There are countless cases in which federal courts found harsh and inadequate conditions of imprisonment that violate the Constitution.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The two leaders have since reconciled and been on cordial terms, despite Bolsonaro’s imprisonment and allegations of mistreatment.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
Cult expert Marie and her husband, Katas, moved to the Utah–Arizona border community of Short Creek planning to help residents after Jeffs’ imprisonment.
—Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Prominent Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut was freed Tuesday in a 10-person prisoner swap involving Belarus and Poland, ending his eight-year imprisonment.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The first – a public nuisance offense – is punishable by up to three months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars (about $1,570).
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Further out, a cemetery monument stands in honor of the 150 people who died at the camp during their imprisonment.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
Government figures say more than 8,000 people have benefited from the amnesty so far, most of whom were already subject to some form of restricted freedom rather than full imprisonment.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
There are countless cases in which federal courts found harsh and inadequate conditions of imprisonment that violate the Constitution.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The two leaders have since reconciled and been on cordial terms, despite Bolsonaro’s imprisonment and allegations of mistreatment.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
Cult expert Marie and her husband, Katas, moved to the Utah–Arizona border community of Short Creek planning to help residents after Jeffs’ imprisonment.
—Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprisonment
Noun
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Her octopus was named Marcellus McSquiddles, an aging crank who notes his days of captivity in a Puget Sound aquarium as if on death row, but also recognizes the night janitor, Tova, is lonely and grieving.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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In The Second Lady, when America’s beloved First Lady is abducted and replaced by a Russian double, both women must fight to survive—one navigating captivity in Siberia, the other infiltrating the White House to sabotage NATO during the G7 Summit.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While the median home price in the Baltimore area is around $360,000, the median asset wealth for a Black family in the city unaffected by incarceration is approximately $2,700.—
Izabela Engel,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
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Another challenge came in the form of how to describe three and a half years, beginning in March 1942, that Mirikitani spent at the Tule Lake incarceration camp in Northern California, alongside thousands of other Japanese American citizens.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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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The ruling questions the disparity between immigration laws that call for the detention of migrants with consistent actions of Congress in funding detention space for just a fraction of those who might be held during deportation proceedings.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
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Burke has repeatedly remarked that her office asks for detention if prosecutors believe someone is a danger to public safety.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Four others indicted in the case were given sentences of as much as six years in prison, with one woman getting a 10-month sentence, suspended for three years.—
Debby Wu,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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As part of Lololee’s deal, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend a prison term at the low end of the sentencing range, according to the court filing.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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She was initially ordered to serve her sentence at her daughter’s home, but a 2019 court ruling placed her behind bars for violating the terms of her confinement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Suhail pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and was released on $5 million bond, ordered to remain on home confinement.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprisonment. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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