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
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as in reform school
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Example Sentences
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Operated by the title character, Steve — into whom lead actor Cillian Murphy channels all sorts of irreconcilable conflict — this is the reform school of last resort.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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By integrating tariff data with sales performance, market trends, and regulatory frameworks, Rensi can pinpoint inefficiencies, detect policy misalignments, and recommend corrective actions—ranging from renegotiating supplier terms to adjusting pricing strategies.—
Nish Acharya,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Restaurants that receive more than 30 demerits are required to immediately fix the most critical violations and start corrective procedures on all the other violations within 48 hours.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Double whatever dungeon loot there’s going to be.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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And so there's this castle that has these massive dungeons .—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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Others include the operator of a flight training school in Pennsylvania.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Many thousands of scientists were killed or sent to the gulag, where a significant percentage died.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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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
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One is a stony oubliette with crystals growing out of the walls.—
Erin Alberty,
Axios,
6 Jan. 2025
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This godown was an oubliette.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper’s Magazine ,
7 Dec. 2021
Noun
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For travelers seeking tangible, timely benefits—without the bells, whistles, or hidden catches—the Escape could be the card that actually earns its keep.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Although the keep votes are in the majority, the decision will ultimately hinge on whether administrators believe there’s enough independent, significant coverage to meet the bar.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reformatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reformatory. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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