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 local officials and historians have questioned the practical and symbolic implications of converting the island back into a penitentiary.
—
Kate Talerico, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
Her various occupations, paid and unpaid, included teaching convicts at an area penitentiary and substitute-teaching in junior high.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
At the beloved attraction in San Francisco Bay, visitors could scarcely believe Trump had suggested turning Alcatraz back into a penitentiary.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Starting in 1934, Alcatraz was used as a federal penitentiary, incarcerating more than 1,500 prisoners until its closure in 1963.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Kate Talerico, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
Her various occupations, paid and unpaid, included teaching convicts at an area penitentiary and substitute-teaching in junior high.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
At the beloved attraction in San Francisco Bay, visitors could scarcely believe Trump had suggested turning Alcatraz back into a penitentiary.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Starting in 1934, Alcatraz was used as a federal penitentiary, incarcerating more than 1,500 prisoners until its closure in 1963.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
Noun
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He was sentenced to a term of five months to 20 years in prison and ordered to be removed to Laos in 2007.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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Under a state law that says the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction can extend someone's sentence based on conduct in prison, Mortimer could serve up to 50½ years.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Associated Press in 2021 investigated how the technology landed a Chicago grandfather in jail after it was used as evidence to charge him with murder, with a judge later dismissing the case due to insufficient evidence.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
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The case ultimately went to trial, where the actor was found guilty and sentenced to 150 days in jail.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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