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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In the photo, Sada is dressed in an orange jail uniform while his expression consists of wide eyes and a stiff grin.—
Regina Cho,
VIBE.com,
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 final internment camps didn’t close until 1948, approximately three years after the second world war ended, according to the National Archives.—
Kate Linderman,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2025
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But the only way our leaders should approach the Alien Enemies Act in the modern day is by acknowledging the fundamental injustice of wartime internment and expulsions and by working to repeal the law, not resurrecting it to devastate the lives of other immigrants who call this country home.—
Karen Ebel,
TIME,
17 Mar. 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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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 22 Apr. 2025.
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