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
In the early 1970s, the penitentiary remained poorly funded, and prison officials hoped to make money on the rodeo.
—
Arkansas Online, 9 May 2026
Local flavor The Idaho Botanical Garden is located next to the penitentiary and boasts more than 30 acres of gardens.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
The government opened the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz in 1934, hoping to use the remote island to house particularly difficult prisoners, according to the National Park Service.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2026
The former president was hospitalized on March 13 after feeling ill at the Papuda penitentiary in the Brazilian capital.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Arkansas Online, 9 May 2026
Local flavor The Idaho Botanical Garden is located next to the penitentiary and boasts more than 30 acres of gardens.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
The government opened the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz in 1934, hoping to use the remote island to house particularly difficult prisoners, according to the National Park Service.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2026
The former president was hospitalized on March 13 after feeling ill at the Papuda penitentiary in the Brazilian capital.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
Noun
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Landry faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, according to federal prosecutors.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Oslo, NorwayReuters — The stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon was found guilty on Monday of rape and domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison after a seven-week trial that has further dented the royal family’s once picture-perfect image.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Online jail records showed Parady was booked into the Pasco County Jail following the arrest.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Under New York law, climbing a traffic-light pole or perching on its crossbars is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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