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

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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
  • 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 Sandra Bland Act signed into law in 2017 requires that county jails help get inmates with mental health and substance abuse issues treatment, and help expedite the bailing process for those who meet these requirements.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Today, there are more than sixty thousand people in ICE jails across the country, up from thirty-nine thousand in January, 2025.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 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
  • Politicians and candidates want to build prisons there (as if this were a solution).
    — Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026
  • Widdecombe was in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, serving in roles including prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s 1990s Conservative government.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of prisons
Noun
  • Students who want on-the-go organization will appreciate this backpack’s many pockets and dedicated slots for pens, laptops, cables, and valuables.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Test Stray Pens Gather loose pens from your nightstand, purse, and nearby drawers—or even from around your whole house.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 12 July 2026
Definition of pens
Noun
  • This was one of three failure points that occurred on top of visible expansion joints built across the concrete basin — which experts said would also strain the coating.
    — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • The big winners of the World Cup have been Kansas City barbecue joints, as classics like Joe’s Kansas City and Arthur Bryant’s have received heavy foot traffic.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hocks for Spanish Speakers

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