Definition of internmentnext
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined the internment of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II is one of the more shameful chapters in United States history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 internment During the special, Klepper travels to a peaceful nude bike rally against ICE internment camps holding people without due process. Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 June 2026 In California, language related to the internment of Japanese Americans at the Manzanar National Historic Site, as well as the history of Indigenous people in Death Valley and Muir Woods came under scrutiny. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 But with Questions 27 & 28, Yamashita is not just seeking to interpret the loyalty debate, and perhaps the experience of internment, by writing fiction about it. Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 Tursun, 36, told us that her newborn son — one of triplets — had been killed by the Chinese Communist Party and that she was tortured in internment camps. Michael Arkush, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for internment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for internment
Noun
  • But Helaena puts an end to it all with a fatal leap from captivity.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nigerian forces rescued at least 308 victims from captivity in the past week, with the bulk of the victims coming from two distinct groups.
    Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The poll, commissioned by the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit working to end mass incarceration, was conducted shortly after ICE agents shot and killed two immigrants during traffic stops in Maine and Texas over the span of six days in July.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • However, just before an August 2025 hearing, the filing states, the families learned Butler would not agree to plead guilty or to incarceration at a juvenile facility after all.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Anyone possessing marijuana for personal use can be jailed for a month, while distribution and sales are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment depending on the amount seized.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities say the man was charged with one count of assaulting the crew of an aircraft, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; as well as one count of common assault, which carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Derived in the 1950s, the Lawson Criterion describes the combinations of temperature, plasma density, and energy confinement needed to net energy production from fusion plasma.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike prisons, jails are designed for short-term detention rather than prolonged confinement.
    Jillian Turanovic, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The rapper, born Kentrell Gaulden, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison with credit for time served dating back to at least May 2024.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Clancy, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder, could face life in prison if convicted.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Internment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/internment. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on internment

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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