as in prison
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
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Recent Examples of penitentiary
But their attempts to address more fundamental corruption backfire; many interpret their pragmatic cooperation with the government as carrying water for Juan Orlando Hernández, a strongman president later exposed as a drug trafficker who is now serving a 45-year sentence in a U.S. penitentiary.
—
Katherine Corcoran, New York Times, 20 May 2025
There is no direct evidence linking Trump’s sudden decision to reopen the remote penitentiary, which has been closed since 1963, to the film.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Novak also was an ordained minister who helped out on skid row, in missions and in jails around Los Angeles and in penitentiaries throughout the country for nearly four decades.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
The Chilean government also said that the entire penitentiary system is operational with backup power.
—Gerardo Lemos, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Katherine Corcoran, New York Times, 20 May 2025
There is no direct evidence linking Trump’s sudden decision to reopen the remote penitentiary, which has been closed since 1963, to the film.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Novak also was an ordained minister who helped out on skid row, in missions and in jails around Los Angeles and in penitentiaries throughout the country for nearly four decades.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
The Chilean government also said that the entire penitentiary system is operational with backup power.
—Gerardo Lemos, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
Noun
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What To Know Shannon McShane was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to influencing a public servant, perjury, and retaliation against a witness or victim.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
-
All charges are felonies, and each carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of three years due to the use of a firearm.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Repeat offenders could face 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or sometimes both.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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Many could be offered treatment rather than jail time.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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