confine
Keep within bounds
To confine someone or something is to limit movement or freedom.
You might confine a dangerous dog to a cage, or confine your remarks to the main point.
If a pregnant woman is confined, she is nearing delivery.
Confines are any boundaries that limit movement or freedom.
The word has a negative connotation and is often used to criticize something that is considered too limited: The judge’s decision did not go beyond the confines of established law.
Maximum allowed extent
- constrainTo limit or restrict
- restrainLimit freedom of movement
- curtailTo cut short
- boundSecured or destined
cap · ceiling · inhibit · constrict · contain · circumscribe · hem in · box in
Barred confinement structure
- penInk-filled writing tool
- cellBasic unit of life
- coopPoultry enclosure
- corralFenced livestock enclosure
kennel · aviary · terrarium · paddock · stall · crate · hutch · ward
Confinement for offenders
- incarcerateConfine in detention
- detainHold in custody
- jailDetention facility
- inmateConfined facility resident
warden · penitentiary · convict · lockup · solitary · custody · sentenced · gaol
Separate from others
- isolationComplete separation from others
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
sequester · cordon off · separate · segregate · shelter in place · self-isolate · sanitary · infectious
Unable to escape
ensnared · penned · surrounded · stuck · detained · apprehended · held captive · prisoner
limit
Maximum allowed extent
bound · cap · ceiling · inhibit · constrict · contain · circumscribe · hem in · box in · fence in
cage
Barred confinement structure
corral · kennel · aviary · terrarium · paddock · stall · crate · hutch · ward · chamber
prison
Confinement for offenders
- incarcerateConfine in detention
- detainHold in custody
- jailDetention facility
inmate · warden · penitentiary · convict · lockup · solitary · custody · sentenced · gaol · bars
isolate
Separate from others
- isolationComplete separation from others
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
seclusion · sequester · cordon off · separate · segregate · shelter in place · self-isolate · sanitary · infectious · contagion
trapped
Unable to escape
snared · ensnared · penned · surrounded · stuck · detained · apprehended · held captive · prisoner · hostage
- confinementcell, cage, prison, jail, imprisonment
- enclosingenvelop, surround, wrap, encircle, encase
- restrainhold back, suppress, hold in, keep in, keep down
- restraintshandcuffs, shackles, chains, ropes, cuffs
- bottling emotionsrepress, suppress, stifle, hold back, contain
- isolationloneliness, quarantine, seclusion, lockdown, solitude
- solitary confinementIsolated imprisonment in cell
- home confinementForced domestic detention
- confined spaceRestricted enclosed area
- magnetic confinementRestraining plasma via fields
- inertial confinementTrapping via rapid compression
- confined aquiferGroundwater layer between impermeable strata
confined, confinement, confines, confining, unconfined, confinements, reconfined