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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prison
Read could face life in prison if convicted of the top charge.
—
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
That period was also the start of his own lifelong struggle with narcotics that resulted in multiple arrests and extended stints in prison.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2025
Carlson was sentenced to four years in prison, but a judge decided to stay the sentence in favor of three years supervised probation, Northern News Now reported.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Since his detention, Mangione has seen supporters donate thousands of dollars for his defense fund, gifts sent to his prison, and letters showing support and asking for his response.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
That period was also the start of his own lifelong struggle with narcotics that resulted in multiple arrests and extended stints in prison.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2025
Carlson was sentenced to four years in prison, but a judge decided to stay the sentence in favor of three years supervised probation, Northern News Now reported.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Since his detention, Mangione has seen supporters donate thousands of dollars for his defense fund, gifts sent to his prison, and letters showing support and asking for his response.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prison
Noun
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However, on March 27, a paperwork error allowed Guzman to walk out of the Clayton County jail a free man.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The five were booked in Columbia County jail, records show.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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It’s been just over eight months since the Jamaican dancehall legend was freed from captivity after serving 13 years behind bars for a murder conviction that was overturned on appeal in March 2024.—
Rob Kenner,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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A little more than 200 red wolves live in captivity, but fewer than 20 exist in the wild — all in a rural five-county section of northeastern North Carolina.—
Zachery Eanes,
Axios,
8 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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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
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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
Noun
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And so, Diana stayed behind, idly waiting out her period of confinement while the museum was rebuilt around her.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Top executives settled as well, including one who was sentenced to home confinement as part of a criminal plea deal.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prison. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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