The word "gaoled" is a British spelling of "jailed" which means to be incarcerated or locked up. Synonyms for "gaoled" or "jailed" include terms such as imprisoned, detained, confined, incarcerated, locked up, restrained, held captive, and incarcerated. Each of these words represents a different nuance of the experience of being imprisoned, such as being held captive against one's will, or being confined as a result of legal action. Synonyms can help a writer to better convey the precise meaning of a concept, and can add richness and depth to a piece of writing.