as in reformative
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition
the belief that manual labor was a reformatory experience for convicted felons, who would learn the value of hard work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in reform school
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reformatory
Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
On the cusp of college, he’s instead sentenced to time at a notorious reformatory.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
His mother sent him to the Élan School in Maine, a reformatory boarding institution with extreme forms of discipline, including shouting sessions and boxing matches, that attracted widespread criticism and that led to the school’s closing in 2011.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for reformatory
Adjective
James Thompson remembered the words of the state psychologist he was required to visit weekly in Charlotte after being released from the state reformatory.
—Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
On the cusp of college, he’s instead sentenced to time at a notorious reformatory.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
While Spanish Catholicism and reformatory Protestantism favored black clothing, much of the Renaissance happened in an explosion of color.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
His mother sent him to the Élan School in Maine, a reformatory boarding institution with extreme forms of discipline, including shouting sessions and boxing matches, that attracted widespread criticism and that led to the school’s closing in 2011.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for reformatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reformatory
Adjective
-
As part of the reformative aims of the convict system, many of these men were incarcerated at Fremantle Prison, trained, and put to work on infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and public buildings.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix.—
The Arizona Republic,
The Arizona Republic,
14 Jan. 2024
Noun
-
Steve heads up a reform school for volatile, cursing and rabble-rousing English boys, and his mental health is tested when a documentary crew shows up and word gets out the school is closing.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Porter’s original story was told from the perspective of Shy, a troubled teenager at a reform school, the final stop before prison.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
According to a report by the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Kansas DCF submitted a corrective action plan by the deadline.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Current options to improve vision include corrective reading glasses, progressive lenses and surgical procedures.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The 33-year-old dungeon master from McKinney, Texas, was voted out by a 2-0 vote.—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The remains of a 16th-century dungeon were discovered, officials said.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The former gymnasium for the laborer training school that once occupied the property and now serves as Olivet’s chapel is decorated with holiday decor on December 13, 2022, for an upcoming choir concert.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Others include the operator of a flight training school in Pennsylvania.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Many thousands of scientists were killed or sent to the gulag, where a significant percentage died.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Polar gulags are also the preferred place to send political prisoners who threaten the government, such as the opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died under suspicious circumstances in one such prison in 2024.—
Michael Albertus,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
One is a stony oubliette with crystals growing out of the walls.—
Erin Alberty,
Axios,
6 Jan. 2025
-
This godown was an oubliette.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper’s Magazine ,
7 Dec. 2021
Noun
-
Thoughtful collection, labeling and processing keep inputs accurate and truly representative of the information an AI system is being fed.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Regular cleaning will ensure your vacuum keeps doing its job and prevent your home from feeling dustier than ever.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reformatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reformatory. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share