imprison

verb

im-ˈpri-zᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
Definition of imprisonnext
as in to jail
to put in or as if in prison in this society, we try to imprison criminals so that they can't do any more harm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example 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 imprison But a few years later, after committing similar crimes there, he was arrested and imprisoned at the Château de Vincennes at the king’s orders, under a lettre de cachet (signet letter). — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 In the trailer, Lucie enlists the help of Sydney when Charles is imprisoned and charged with treason after delivering her a message from Paris that alleges her father, who has been dead for nearly 20 years, is alive. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 Gilman was one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia. — Henry Austin, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026 Many of the march’s leaders and participants were later imprisoned in the Women’s Jail, where activists were held separately according to their race, as apartheid enforced segregation everywhere in South Africa. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imprison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imprison
  1. jail
  2. incarcerate
Verb
  • His brother, Jianquan Bo, is now jailed on murder and kidnapping charges and has pleaded not guilty.
    — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Wednesday marked three years since Pakistan’s most popular politician, Imran Khan, was jailed on various charges after his relations with the military publicly broke down.
    — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of jail
Verb
  • Many expressed their sadness at knowing their friend would likely spend much of his life incarcerated, but declined to comment on the record.
    — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026
  • According to the department, a study in Virginia found a 59% reduction in injuries to incarcerated individuals and a 45% reduction in reportable uses of force.
    — Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of incarcerate

Browse Nearby Words

imprints
imprison
imprisoned
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Cite this Entry

“Imprison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imprison. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on imprison

Nglish: Translation of imprison for Spanish Speakers

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