as in prison
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
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Recent Examples of penitentiary
But their attempts to address more fundamental corruption backfire; many interpret their pragmatic cooperation with the government as carrying water for Juan Orlando Hernández, a strongman president later exposed as a drug trafficker who is now serving a 45-year sentence in a U.S. penitentiary.
—
Katherine Corcoran, New York Times, 20 May 2025
There is no direct evidence linking Trump’s sudden decision to reopen the remote penitentiary, which has been closed since 1963, to the film.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Novak also was an ordained minister who helped out on skid row, in missions and in jails around Los Angeles and in penitentiaries throughout the country for nearly four decades.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
The Chilean government also said that the entire penitentiary system is operational with backup power.
—Gerardo Lemos, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Katherine Corcoran, New York Times, 20 May 2025
There is no direct evidence linking Trump’s sudden decision to reopen the remote penitentiary, which has been closed since 1963, to the film.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Novak also was an ordained minister who helped out on skid row, in missions and in jails around Los Angeles and in penitentiaries throughout the country for nearly four decades.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
The Chilean government also said that the entire penitentiary system is operational with backup power.
—Gerardo Lemos, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
Noun
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Administration officials flaunted court orders by deporting immigrants to a Salvadoran prison.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
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An ex-con who went to prison for shooting a teenager to death during a birthday party went on to go into business as a gun trafficker in Queens after his release on parole, federal prosecutors say.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Following Shelia's arrest, she was held in jail without bail, per MetroNews.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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On June 23, 2012, the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, convicted Chávez of the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol and sentenced him to 13 days in jail and 36 months’ probation.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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