imprison

[im-priz-uhn] / ɪmˈprɪz ən /

VERB

confine; put in jail

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apprehend commit detain hold incarcerate jail lock up remand

STRONG

cage check circumscribe closet constrain curb ice immure impound intern keep limit nab occlude pen restrain stockade trammel

WEAK

bastille bottle up fence in hold captive hold hostage hold in custody keep captive keep in custody lock in put away put behind bars rail in send to prison send up shut in take prisoner

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cease free let go liberate release stop

STRONG

aid allow assist help permit

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I patiently explained that neither law clerks nor justices get to imprison people sua sponte.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

Mitsotakis, who notes the fraud began before he came to power in 2019, has vowed to imprison the "thieves" responsible and to reclaim the funds.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

In America, we don’t imprison people for violating rules that were never written.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

In the other universe, Letby is the victim of a flawed criminal justice system in which unreliable medical evidence was used to condemn and imprison an innocent woman.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025

This was the practical thing to do, he hinted, to imprison the man rather than risk the anger of Haitians who were starting to lose confidence in Captain Carroll’s leadership.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Vocabulary lists containing imprison

Schooled

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"The New Colossus"

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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