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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straitjacket
The undiluted isolationism of his campaign messaging could prove to be a straitjacket that paralyzes the Trump administration’s foreign policy at a critical time.
—
Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump should make clear that Washington will no longer allow the accord to impose a straitjacket on broader U.S. policy in the Middle East.
—Tzvi Kahn, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017
Lagrange’s method, despite seeming like a mere mathematical convenience at the time, loosened the straitjacket of Newton’s mechanistic view of the universe as a sequence of falling dominos.
—Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
Many have plausibly claimed that his insistence on fitting a diverse society into the straitjacket of modern secular nationalism led successive governments to respond brutally when citizens wanted to keep speaking Kurdish or wearing headscarves.
—Nick Danforth, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2015
See all Example Sentences for straitjacket 
Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump should make clear that Washington will no longer allow the accord to impose a straitjacket on broader U.S. policy in the Middle East.
—Tzvi Kahn, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017
Lagrange’s method, despite seeming like a mere mathematical convenience at the time, loosened the straitjacket of Newton’s mechanistic view of the universe as a sequence of falling dominos.
—Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
Many have plausibly claimed that his insistence on fitting a diverse society into the straitjacket of modern secular nationalism led successive governments to respond brutally when citizens wanted to keep speaking Kurdish or wearing headscarves.
—Nick Danforth, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2015
See all Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
-
While the crew endured the challenges of confinement for the sake of science, their work embodies a larger purpose: enabling future explorers to journey farther and stay longer.—
Anastasia Stepanova,
Space.com,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Sentenced to 3 years in prison, with the first year on home confinement.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Denny’s is closing dozens of restaurants The American diner is closing at least 30 of its restaurants as part of the struggling chain’s plans to jumpstart growth.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Dutch Bros — The coffee shop chain soared more than 27% after issuing strong fourth-quarter earnings and same-store sales.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Determined to resolve the situation, the OP set a trap.—
Darlin Tillery,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Listen to this article Rodent issues — including one found alive in a sticky trap at an Italian restaurant and more than 40 droppings in a taco spot’s kitchen — were among the violations that led the state to temporarily shut nine South Florida restaurants last week.—
Kari Barnett,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The animal was fitted with a collar containing a GPS tracker and released.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The cloth cutters are mostly men; the sewers, who do the more complex engineering, such as the cuffs and collars, are mostly women.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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