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
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Recent Examples of straitjacket
This means that the straitjacket of sanctions has been loosened for Kim.
—
Daniel R. Russel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2018
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
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Daniel R. Russel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2018
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
See All Example Sentences for straitjacket
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straitjacket
Noun
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Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence, ordering the remainder of his sentence to be served in home confinement.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2025
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Despite noting the couple violated the public’s trust and that the husband lied on the witness stand, a federal judge on Wednesday gave the Wades strikingly lenient sentences: three years of probation for Carolyn, including 90 days of home confinement, and 90 days of prison time for Tracy.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Artificial Intelligence will soon take fast-food orders at 500 major chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
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This is less of a problem at large fast-food chains with safety checks and cooking technologies that help minimize these chemicals, but smaller restaurants may not have these precautions, Decker explains.—
Matt Fuchs,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Too many ambitious people fall into the trap of chasing other people’s definitions of discipline instead of their own.—
Kody Boye,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
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Big mistake: Kitchens get plenty dirty already, but the top of your refrigerator can be a veritable dust trap.—
Lauren Phillips,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The high collar with a keyhole neckline adds a chic element that can pair with your best strappy heels or chunky wedges.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
20 Mar. 2025
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The spring-ready button-down has elevated pearl eyelet detailing on the collar and down the center with an eyelet pattern throughout.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straitjacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straitjacket. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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