as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
told harrowing stories of his years spent in the big house
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Recent Examples of big houses
Thank goodness for wealthy people and their big houses.
—
Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025
Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big houses
Noun
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There have also been fewer inmate deaths in Tarrant County than in Dallas and Harris counties, although those county jails have more capacity — 7,552 beds in Dallas County and 10,466 beds in Harris County, the report shows.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
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If someone is jailed for any charges and doesn’t have legal immigration status, ICE asks jails to hold them longer than their otherwise release date so federal agents can pick them up.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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After his conviction, Gray was sent to Angola, one of the most violent penitentiaries in the country at the time.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Investigators believe some of the scams are coordinated by inmates inside Georgia prisons with help from people on the outside.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Minnesota correctional officials say many people accused of crimes were released directly to ICE by state or county prisons and jails.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Big houses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20houses. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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