hocks 1 of 2

noun

plural of hock
as in penitentiaries
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody some lowlife who had been in and out of hock most of his adult life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hocks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hock
as in pawns
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan the prince had to hock the family jewels to pay his gambling debts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hocks
Noun
Southern field peas and smoky ham hocks go together like Johnny and June. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hocks
  1. penitentiaries
  2. deposits
  3. jails
  4. mortgages
  5. prisons
  6. pens
  7. joints
Noun
  • This includes providing the Colombian military more leeway in the field, signing a new security agreement with Washington and building 10 mega-prisons that mimic Bukele’s network of penitentiaries in El Salvador.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
  • Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.
    — Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of penitentiaries
Verb
  • The lightweight cream deposits a subtle wash of color, and blends tracelessly to create a fresh-faced, no-makeup-makeup finish.
    — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 30 June 2026
  • This is one in which the user deposits cash that serves as its’ purchase limit.
    — Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of deposits
Noun
  • The five-member Board of Supervisors is charged with approving settlements with the families of people who die or are injured in county jails.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • The program was established by state lawmakers in 2018 as a way to help stem the tide of mental illness in jails and prisons, usually by dismissing cases and offering treatment for the underlying conditions behind a defendant’s arrest.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of jails
Verb
  • Those are the players in recent memory who’ve commanded the kind of draft capital that reshapes franchises — the sort of seismic move that mortgages a future and, in return, attaches expectations normally reserved for franchise-carrying superstars.
    — Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
Definition of mortgages
Noun
  • Nanayakkara said some 734 inmates who were involved in the violence were transferred to other prisons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • The program was established by state lawmakers in 2018 as a way to help stem the tide of mental illness in jails and prisons, usually by dismissing cases and offering treatment for the underlying conditions behind a defendant’s arrest.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of prisons
Noun
  • School supply donations can include pens, pencils, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, folders, dry-erase markers, chalk, highlighters and staples.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
  • Beyond your computer, there are notebooks, pens, sunglasses, chargers, phone cords, keys, wallets and important papers.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of pens
Noun
  • The method is intense on muscles but easy on joints, according to the Lagree website.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
  • The humanoid features human-scale proportions, a neutral visor instead of a face, and visible mechanical joints.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Definition of joints

Browse Nearby Words

hocking
hocks
hocus-pocus
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Cite this Entry

“Hocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hocks. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hocks

Nglish: Translation of hocks for Spanish Speakers

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