LOCKING (UP) Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

locking (up)

verb

present participle of lock (up)

as in jailing

to put in or as if in prison if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for locking (up)

Verb

When individuals and institutions have spoken out against policy toward Israel, the president has wielded the power of the state to attack them, withholding funding from universities and deporting and jailing protesters.

— Michael Fuchs, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026
Critics say the 12-year rule of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has marked a crackdown on civil society and jailing of political opponents.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 20 July 2026

Definition of jailing

Verb

Ilham Aliyev continued his father’s dictatorial legacy, imprisoning his critics and enriching his family and cronies, while polishing his country’s image by hosting Formula One events and the Eurovision Song Contest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
The turn of events prompt the narrator to re-examine his life as a gay Latine son of immigrants whose hometown is now imprisoning people like him.

— Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of imprisoning

Verb

Likewise, taking challenging courses, engaging in summer research, interning in an area of interest, or pursuing an extracurricular activity deeply can all be meaningful endeavors.

— Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Simmons, a native of Buffalo, New York, got his start interning for Ani DiFranco, whose Righteous Babe Records was based in town.

— Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026

Definition of interning

Verb

The goal is to reduce violence, get people proper resources, and avoid the cycle of incarcerating people dealing with poverty, addiction, and mental health.

— Scott Maucione, NPR, 27 July 2026
Officials reinforced stay-at-home orders by erecting fences around some apartment buildings, essentially incarcerating occupants.

— Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of incarcerating

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locking out

locking (up)

lock out

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“Locking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locking%20%28up%29. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of locking (up)

verb

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