1
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
he was bored and frustrated by his incarceration in the quarantine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
sentenced to six months of incarceration for dealing in narcotics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incarceration
Bustamante Leiva was charged along with a second suspect, Cristian Montecino-Sananza, who was sentenced in March to 13 months of incarceration for his role in one of the other thefts.
—
ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Merl Hefferman, a former Fresno Hells Angels president, pleaded guilty to assisting in Silva’s cremation and was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison, but has avoided incarceration since his 2023 guilty plea due to serious medical issues, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
At one point, early in his incarceration, Maduro seems to have been kept in a unit designed for solitary confinement, as is often the case for inmates of his status.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
Facing a brutal system throughout her incarceration – compounded by her transgender identity and HIV-positive diagnosis – Dee taught herself the law from within the prison library, working to fight an unjust system for herself and others.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incarceration
ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Merl Hefferman, a former Fresno Hells Angels president, pleaded guilty to assisting in Silva’s cremation and was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison, but has avoided incarceration since his 2023 guilty plea due to serious medical issues, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
At one point, early in his incarceration, Maduro seems to have been kept in a unit designed for solitary confinement, as is often the case for inmates of his status.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
Facing a brutal system throughout her incarceration – compounded by her transgender identity and HIV-positive diagnosis – Dee taught herself the law from within the prison library, working to fight an unjust system for herself and others.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incarceration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incarceration
Noun
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With each step forward in negotiations toward a deal, Braslavski said his condition gradually improved until he was released in October 2025 after 738 days in captivity.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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The exhibition also explores the impacts of captivity, environmental threats facing certain orca populations and the broader relationship between humans and marine ecosystems, according to museum officials.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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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
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
“Incarceration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incarceration. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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