Confined — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /kən-ˈfīnd/ con·fined

Meaning & Definition of Confined

Confined (adjective)

  1. kept within confines
  2. limited to a particular location
  3. held captive

Confined (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. taken and held prisoner

    "confined citizens have basic rights under that nation's constitution"

    similar: apprehended, arrested, captive, captured, caught, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, behind bars
    related: bound, enslaved, indentured, ensnared, trapped, abducted, kidnapped, subdued, subjugated, occupied
    opposite: free
    near: unconfined, unrestrained, delivered, emancipated, enfranchised, freed, liberated, paroled, released

Confined (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to set bounds or an upper limit for

    "will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss"

    similar: capped, circumscribed, held down, limited, restricted
    related: barred, blocked, hampered, hindered, impeded, obstructed, constricted, contracted, lessened, narrowed, pinched, squeezed, tightened, quelled, repressed, suppressed, numbered, modified, qualified
    opposite: exceeded
    near: broadened, expanded, widened, overextended, overreached

  2. to put in or as if in prison

    "the accused was confined until the trial could take place"

    similar: committed, immured, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, jugged, locked (up)
    related: constrained, limited, restrained, restricted, shut, barred, gated, apprehended, arrested, busted (slang), captured, caught, detained, nabbed, picked up, pinched, seized, impressed, shanghaied, held, impounded, kept, bound, enchained, fettered, handcuffed, manacled, shackled, trammeled
    opposite: discharged, freed, liberated, released
    near: emancipated, enfranchised, manumitted, unbound, uncaged, unchained, unfettered

Related Entry: Confine (verb)

Confine is a different word from Confined. The synonyms below are for confine, not for confined.

  1. to set bounds or an upper limit for

    "will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss"

    similar: cap, circumscribe, hold down, limit, restrict
    related: bar, block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct, constrict, contract, lessen, narrow, pinch, squeeze, tighten, quell, repress, suppress, number, modify, qualify
    opposite: exceed
    near: broaden, expand, widen, overextend, overreach

  2. to put in or as if in prison

    "the accused was confined until the trial could take place"

    similar: commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up)
    related: constrain, limit, restrain, restrict, shut, bar, gate, apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), capture, catch, detain, nab, pick up, pinch, seize, impress, shanghai, hold, impound, keep, bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel
    opposite: discharge, free, liberate, release
    near: emancipate, enfranchise, manumit, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Confined

The most common words with a similar meaning to Confined:

apprehended, arrested, captive, captured, caught, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, behind bars, capped, circumscribed, held down, limited, restricted, committed, immured, jugged, locked (up)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Confined

Words with the opposite meaning of Confined:

free, exceeded, discharged, freed, liberated, released

Related Words for Confined

bound, enslaved, indentured, ensnared, trapped, abducted, kidnapped, subdued, subjugated, occupied, barred, blocked, hampered, hindered, impeded, obstructed, constricted, contracted, lessened, narrowed, pinched, squeezed, tightened, quelled, repressed, suppressed, numbered, modified, qualified, constrained

Near Antonyms of Confined

unconfined, unrestrained, delivered, emancipated, enfranchised, paroled, broadened, expanded, widened, overextended, overreached, manumitted, unbound, uncaged, unchained, unfettered

Origin & Etymology of Confined

from past participle of confine:2

First known use: 1605

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Confined

Frequently Asked Questions about Confined

What does "Confined" mean?

"Confined" means kept within confines. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: kept within confines. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Confined"?

Other words for "Confined" include apprehended, arrested, captive, captured, caught, imprisoned, incarcerated and interned. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Confined" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Confined"?

There are 68 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Confined". Common alternatives include apprehended, arrested, captive, captured, caught, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed and behind bars.

What is the opposite of "Confined"?

Antonyms of "Confined" include free, exceeded, discharged, freed, liberated and released. Near antonyms include unconfined, unrestrained, delivered and emancipated.

How do you use "Confined" in a sentence?

Examples of "Confined" in a sentence: "confined citizens have basic rights under that nation's constitution"; "will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss"; "the accused was confined until the trial could take place".

Is "Confined" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Confined" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Confined" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Confined"?

"Confined" is pronounced /kən-ˈfīnd/ and divided into syllables as con·fined.