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Showing results for incarcerate. Search instead for incarcerat.
Definitions

incarcerate

[in-kahr-suh-reyt, in-kahr-ser-it, -suh-reyt] / ɪnˈkɑr səˌreɪt, ɪnˈkɑr sər ɪt, -səˌreɪt /
VERB
put in jail, confinement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confine detain imprison jail lock up
STRONG
book cage commit constrain hold immure impound intern railroad restrain restrict settle slough
WEAK
bastille coop up put away put on ice put under lock and key send up the river take away throw book at
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go liberate release
STRONG
cancel cease stop

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.

“Nobody has endured what he has over the past few years. People tried to murder him, incarcerate him, slander him. But here he is. I’m so very proud.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

States that build more prisons incarcerate more people.

From Slate • Jul. 30, 2024

We can’t arrest, incarcerate and punish our way out of this complex problem.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2024

She had a difficult childhood, being placed as a teenager in Dublin in one of the notorious former Magdalene laundries, originally set up to incarcerate young girls deemed to be promiscuous.

From BBC • Jul. 27, 2023

“I see they spared no expense to incarcerate us,” I say.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.