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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Examples 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 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 To be sure, in the past decade Democrats and Republicans have abandoned the fiscal straitjacket of the Nineties, drifting away from laissez-faire economics and toward more nationalist policies on trade, infrastructure, and immigration. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 25 Aug. 2024 Several contemplate vibrant futures for the L.A. River, tearing out concrete flood-control straitjackets along its banks and reviving the waterway with abundant plants and wildlife, as well as walking paths. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024 Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline and ask for help to escape the financial straitjacket your husband has you in. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for straitjacket 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
  • That group should start with the nearly 1,500 prisoners who are currently on home confinement under the CARES Act.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
  • He is being held in pretrial confinement and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Make extra chains to use in garlands, on mantels, and around doorways.
    Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The North American resort chain best known for its indoor water parks offers seemingly endless activities for kids at no extra charge – plus all-inclusive dining packages for children and free, daily breakfast packages that further add to the resort’s incredible value.
    Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The fastest way to get rid of roof rats involves a combination of trapping, sealing entry points and removing food and shelter: Set traps strategically: Use snap traps or electronic traps baited with peanut butter, fruit or nuts.
    Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Why Keyword Blocking Is The Wrong Measure In my opinion, creating blacklists of keywords is the most standard brand safety measure, as well as its most typical trap.
    Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • It’s got an eye-catching quilted pattern and is covered in faux-shearling material, even along your neck, which is protected from icy winds by the wide collar.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
  • It's insulated with solid ankle support and a soft faux fur collar — all for around the cost of checking a single travel bag.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near straitjacket

Cite this Entry

“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on straitjacket

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!