PENITENTIARIES Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

penitentiaries

noun

Definition of penitentiaries next

plural of penitentiary

as in prisons

a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outsides

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 penitentiaries Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten. —

Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiaries

Noun

Most of the candidates’ pledges, such as tackling unaffordability, reducing gas prices, increasing capacity in state prisons, protecting gun owners’ rights and keeping trans athletes out of girls’ locker rooms, are nearly identical.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The analysis by the Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley found that ICE arrests more than quadrupled in that period, with transfers from jails and prisons roughly doubling.

— Daniella Silva, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026