as in internment
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild
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Recent Examples of captivity
Among those released from Russian captivity were defenders of Snake Island, a strategic outpost near the Black Sea port of Odesa seized by Russia in the early days of the invasion, Zelensky said.
—
George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Russia's Defense Ministry said 150 Russian soldiers were freed from captivity as part of the exchange in which each side released 150 people.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazettes Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024
More than 50 Americans were held in captivity after the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was stormed.
—Colin Meyn, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
Worried the snails were the last of their kind, the researchers brought the shell-toting creatures into captivity in several zoos across the United Kingdom and France.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivity 
George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Russia's Defense Ministry said 150 Russian soldiers were freed from captivity as part of the exchange in which each side released 150 people.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazettes Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024
More than 50 Americans were held in captivity after the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was stormed.
—Colin Meyn, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
Worried the snails were the last of their kind, the researchers brought the shell-toting creatures into captivity in several zoos across the United Kingdom and France.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
Noun
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China's ongoing crackdown in Xinjiang has elicited condemnation from the U.S. and a number of its allies, which accuse the People's Republic of indiscriminately detaining Uyghurs in mass internment camps.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
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The film also recounts how his father paved the way in making films about the Japanese internment camp experience.—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He was sentenced to seven days’ incarceration at a DUI education center, two years’ probation, a $350 fine and payment of court fees.—
Nardine Saad,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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After her two months of incarceration, Hemphill got out and immediately created a place on X Spaces, previously known as Twitter Spaces, for those involved in the Capitol riot.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Some of those actions don’t fall under the CRA, including Biden’s sweeping order to grant clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans released from prison and placed on home confinement during the pandemic.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
8 Jan. 2025
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Stewart donned the status symbol to her trial for lying during an insider-trading investigation, at which she was convicted and sentenced to a five-month stint in prison followed by home confinement.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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An Indiana woman was sentenced Friday to six years in prison for the death of her 10-year-old son nearly a year ago.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2025
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He was convicted of a drug offense in 1994 and served eight years in prison.—
Colleen Long,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near captivity
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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