as in prison
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 penitentiary
On Monday, Venezuela's penitentiary authority said that 116 people had been freed.
—
Reuters, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
Williams developed the lead that convinced LAPD detectives to head to an Oklahoma penitentiary in search of answers from their new suspect, DarraLynn Madden.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
In mid-November, DOJ officials also responded, noting that the state penitentiary had been on lockdown only a total of about 17 days since late May, based on information provided by prison officials.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Price’s decision in December to play for women incarcerated in a Tennessee penitentiary underlines her feminist bond with royalty such as Loretta Lynn and June Carter Cash.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Reuters, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
Williams developed the lead that convinced LAPD detectives to head to an Oklahoma penitentiary in search of answers from their new suspect, DarraLynn Madden.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
In mid-November, DOJ officials also responded, noting that the state penitentiary had been on lockdown only a total of about 17 days since late May, based on information provided by prison officials.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Price’s decision in December to play for women incarcerated in a Tennessee penitentiary underlines her feminist bond with royalty such as Loretta Lynn and June Carter Cash.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
Noun
-
Oscar Wilde was not the only Irishman locked up in an English prison to draw Proust’s attention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Nguyen pleaded guilty last year to a felony charge and multiple misdemeanors and is now serving a seven-year prison sentence, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
He will be transferred to the county jail once he is released from the hospital.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Jackson was not listed on the Pulaski County jail's roster Sunday night.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
