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Definitions

shut in

[shuht-in] / ˈʃʌtˌɪn /
ADJECTIVE
confined
Synonyms
STRONGEST
circumscribed cramped imprisoned restrained restricted
STRONG
bound chilled compassed cramp detained grounded hampered held hog-tied iced immured incarcerated indisposed invalided jailed pent sick
WEAK
bedfast bedridden bottled-up cooped up flattened out in chains in jail incommodious laid up locked up on ice sealed up shut-in
Antonyms
STRONG
healthy well
WEAK
free liberated unlimited
VERB
barricade
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blockade fortify
STRONG
bar defend obstruct
Antonyms
WEAK
allow open
VERB
besiege
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beleaguer beset blockade encircle hem in trap
STRONG
assail attack confine congregate encompass environ invest
WEAK
come at from all sides lay siege to work on work over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
let go
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
bottle up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
repress suppress
WEAK
box up bring to naught check collar contain coop up cork corner cover up cramp curb enclose entrap hold back hold down hold in keep back keep feeling inside oneself keep secret restrain restrict trap
Antonyms
STRONGEST
let go
WEAK
confide reveal tell
VERB
cage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coop up
STRONG
confine enclose envelop hem immure impound imprison incarcerate jail mew pen restrain
WEAK
close in fence in lock up shut up
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go liberate release
WEAK
let out
VERB
coop
Synonyms
STRONG
cage corral intern keep pen trap
WEAK
close in detain enclose fence in hem in hold captive hold prisoner impound imprison incarcerate lock up put under lock and key shut up
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go release
WEAK
set free
VERB
corral
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coop up lock up
STRONG
cage confine pen
WEAK
fence in shut up
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go release
WEAK
set free
VERB
enclose
Synonyms
STRONGEST
block off encase encircle encompass hem in insert wrap
STRONG
blockade bound cage circle circumscribe confine corral cover enfold enshroud environ fence hedge imbue immure implant impound imprison include induct intern jail limit mew pen restrict veil
WEAK
box up close in coop fence off lock in lock up mure set apart wall in
Antonyms
STRONG
exclude face free let go liberate meet reject release reveal set free
WEAK
unloose
VERB
enslave
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coerce deprive disenfranchise imprison incarcerate oppress shackle subjugate suppress
STRONG
bind capture chain check circumscribe compel confine disfranchise dominate enchain enclose enthrall fetter hobble hold immure indenture jail reduce restrain restrict secure subdue subject tether tie yoke
WEAK
get hooks into keep under thumb put in irons
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go release
STRONG
allow disconnect expand liberate loose loosen lose permit stop unfasten untie
WEAK
emancipate
VERB
envelop
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blanket drape encircle enclose encompass enfold engulf obscure shroud surround swaddle swathe wrap
STRONG
cage cloak conceal contain corral cover embrace enshroud enwrap fence gird girdle guard hem immure invest overlay overspread pen protect roll sheathe shield superimpose veil
WEAK
coop wrap up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go release uncover unloose
STRONG
disregard exclude forget ignore lay bare let out open reveal set free
WEAK
let loose unwrap
VERB
hem/hem in
Synonyms
WEAK
begird beset border bound cage circle circumscribe close in confine corral define edge encircle encompass envelop environ fence fringe girdle hedge in immure margin pen rim ring round shut skirt surround verge
Antonyms
WEAK
let go release
VERB
impound
Synonyms
STRONGEST
imprison seize
STRONG
cage enclose hold keep pen take
WEAK
coop up fence in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go release
STRONG
abandon give stop
VERB
imprison
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 take prisoner
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cease free let go liberate release stop
STRONG
aid allow assist help permit
VERB
mew
Synonyms
STRONG
blockade bound cage circle circumscribe confine coop corral cover encase encircle encompass enfold enshroud environ fence hedge imbue immure implant impound imprison include induct insert intern jail limit pen restrict veil wall wrap
WEAK
block off box up close in fence off hem in lock in lock up mure set apart shut up wall in
Antonyms
STRONG
exclude face free let go liberate meet reject release reveal set free take out uncover unwrap
VERB
pen
Synonyms
STRONG
box cage case confine coop corral hedge mew
WEAK
close in fence in hem in
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go release set free
WEAK
speak
VERB
restrict
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curb decrease define diminish hamper impede inhibit limit narrow reduce regulate restrain shorten
STRONG
bind bound chain check circumscribe constrict contain contract cramp delimit delimitate demarcate encircle enclose inclose moderate modify qualify shrink surround temper tether tie
WEAK
bottle up come down on cool down demark hang up hem in hold back hold down keep within bounds keep within limits pin down prelimit put away put on ice send up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist develop encourage enlarge expand extend free grow help increase lengthen raise
STRONG
let go liberate loose loosen open permit release stretch unbind unfasten unloose untie
VERB
surround
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besiege circle envelop hem in inundate ring
STRONG
beleaguer beset blockade border bound circumscribe circumvent compass confine edge enclave encompass environ fringe gird girdle invest limit loop margin outline rim round skirt verge
WEAK
box in close around close in close in on fence in go around lay siege to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free
STRONG
allow center let go lose permit release
NOUN
invalid
Synonyms
STRONG
consumptive convalescent incurable patient shut-in sufferer
NOUN
patient
Synonyms
STRONGEST
case inmate subject sufferer victim
STRONG
convalescent emergency invalid outpatient shut-in
WEAK
sick person
Antonyms
WEAK
doctor

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.

Global energy prices are likely to remain elevated for some time after the Iran war winds down because of damage to energy infrastructure and shut-in wells that can’t be restarted overnight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Beyond the near-standstill of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, “every day of damaged or shut-in infrastructure pushes prewar production capacity further out of reach,” the analysts said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

There are even flashes of Grace, the lonely shut-in mother of two in “The Others,” whose belief that her house is haunted causes her slow descent into madness.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2025

That means “an extended shut-in of the Red Sea route from the Middle East poses a supply risk to Europe,” said Kaushal Ramesh, vice president at Rystad Energy.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

That’s when Aunt Maureen sold all the animals and basically turned into a shut-in.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy