1
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the ongoing debate whether drug users should go to prison
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in captivity
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the view that prison does nothing to cure the criminal—if anything, it makes him worse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prison
At times self-reflective and at times defiant, Peterson’s declaration after two decades in prison — most of those on Death Row — offers his most detailed version of a story that continues to capture international attention.
—
Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
Related article Even for an administrative hearing, Luigi Mangione draws crowds at New York City courthouse
Mangione’s top federal charge, murder through use of a firearm, could land him a death sentence or life in prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
—Michelle Watson, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
He was not immediately remanded and will report to prison at a future date.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
He was ultimately convicted of the killings in Brooklyn Federal Court in 2014 and sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years for the dual murders.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
Related article Even for an administrative hearing, Luigi Mangione draws crowds at New York City courthouse
Mangione’s top federal charge, murder through use of a firearm, could land him a death sentence or life in prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
—Michelle Watson, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
He was not immediately remanded and will report to prison at a future date.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
He was ultimately convicted of the killings in Brooklyn Federal Court in 2014 and sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years for the dual murders.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prison
Noun
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More than 21,000 people died in local jails and state prisons in four years, according to records the government has hidden from public view since 2021.—
Gina Barton,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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David Castro, with a long history of drug use, has been in Santa Clara County jail awaiting trial since he was arrested in 2023.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Billy is often seen bobbing, pacing and swaying — all signs of brain damage caused by years of captivity, the organization said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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The hostages have been in the captivity of militants in Gaza for more than 18 months.—
Natan Odenheimer,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Barnes, 67, was convicted and sentenced to 21 years in a Russian penitentiary in February 2024.—
Tanya Stukalova,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
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The first penitentiaries weren’t built until the late 1700s, so more extreme sentences were deemed necessary to prevent discord.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The United States has a shameful history of detaining and deporting citizens, from the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II to more recent cases.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Musician and educator Harry Urata, confined to an internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, encountered Japanese-American workers who had processed sugar cane leaves on Hawaiian plantations since the late 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Through deeply personal storytelling, the film highlights the generational impact of mass incarceration, the resilience of families, and the urgent need for systemic change.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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Many of the recipients are working on projects responding to issues including climate change, Indigenous studies, identity, democracy and politics, incarceration, and the evolving purpose of community.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His wife, Kimberly Maddox, 44, was sentenced to 12 months, including time in home confinement.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2025
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Federal judge Reed O’Connor dismissed Tarrant County and six jailers listed as defendants from the lawsuit in early February, citing the plaintiffs’ failure to show that Johnson’s death was a result of conditions of confinement, such as overcrowding.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prison. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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