1
as in jails
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 captivities
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 prisons
The federal Department of Justice announced an investigation into California’s correctional system Thursday over the state’s policy of housing incarcerated transgender women in female prisons.
—
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Most prisons house multiple levels, and only four hold level V inmates, though not exclusively.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
That in-the-shadows violence permeates all institutions, from prisons to governmental offices.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The agency, which operates 10 prisons around the state, has contracted with out-of-state prisons to address overpopulation issues for several years.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
The case has shed light on Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees — particularly teens and children — in its prisons.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
Many people might think of powdered or injectable drugs as being widespread items in jails and prisons.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
The prisons bureau did not respond to a CNN request for comment on conditions at the MDC.
—María Santana, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
The ratio of officers to inmates at state prisons is still too low.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Most prisons house multiple levels, and only four hold level V inmates, though not exclusively.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
That in-the-shadows violence permeates all institutions, from prisons to governmental offices.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The agency, which operates 10 prisons around the state, has contracted with out-of-state prisons to address overpopulation issues for several years.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
The case has shed light on Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees — particularly teens and children — in its prisons.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
Many people might think of powdered or injectable drugs as being widespread items in jails and prisons.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
The prisons bureau did not respond to a CNN request for comment on conditions at the MDC.
—María Santana, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
The ratio of officers to inmates at state prisons is still too low.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prisons
Noun
-
After learning some defendants were sitting in Colorado jails for years, the federal government began fining the state $12 million a year.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The number of people in local jails who are transferred to immigration authorities has plummeted since SB 54 went into effect in 2018.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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The wave of prison violence is happening despite the deployment of military and police forces in several penitentiaries.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Despite their felony convictions and impending incarcerations, both former Met police career criminals continue to collect their monthly kisses in the mail — $8,850 a month for Cederquist and $6,020 for Butner.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
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Baltimore leaders say that 87% of young men enrolled in Roca Baltimore for 24 months have no new incarcerations, while those who stay in the program for three years are 19% less likely to return to a life of crime than other similarly aged men in Maryland.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prisons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prisons. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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