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

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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

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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
  • Hodge says he was abused in multiple federal penitentiaries, but was frequently blocked from filing complaints about it.
    — Christie Thompson, NPR, 13 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of penitentiaries
Verb
  • Think of it as a stamp that presses into the top layer of your skin, and deposits pigment instead of puncturing the skin thousands of times.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of deposits
Noun
  • They have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike prisons, jails are designed for short-term detention rather than prolonged confinement.
    — Jillian Turanovic, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of jails
Verb
  • So my guess/belief/thought is that the executive trio is hoping for the best this year, but is unwilling to do anything that mortgages future seasons.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • 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
  • Continue reading … CITY LIMITS – Mamdani clashes with Democratic Socialists' push to abolish police and prisons.
    — , FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • This is probably part of why, in 2024, the New York State Department of Corrections placed prisons on lockdown and let the guards watch the eclipse, but would not let tens of thousands of the imprisoned see it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of prisons
Noun
  • The Grand and Reserve Champion Rabbit Meat pens, Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey and Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Chicken Meat pens had been awarded the previous weekend.
    — Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The dogs were kept on heavy chains or in overcrowded crates and makeshift pens surrounded by waste, prosecutors said.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of pens
Noun
  • Adding faces, legs and dozens of extra joints adds complexity, not value.
    — Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Proudly stupid and surprisingly sweet, Dylan Meyer’s stoner buddy comedy is a tribute to friendship best enjoyed with your own ride-or-die by your side — joints optional.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hocks

Nglish: Translation of hocks for Spanish Speakers

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