as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
earned six years in a federal pen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in writers
a person who creates a written work
Alexander Hamilton is reckoned to be the pseudonymous pen behind two thirds of the Federalist Papers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in houses
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers
remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in writes
to compose and set down on paper the words of
though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pens
Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The event evolved from typical ranch work; cattle herds are often separated into pens for veterinary needs or transport.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Instead of dinglehoppers, Agnes has pens and keychains and even a crackpipe with a lovely rose inside.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Fentanyl also can come in powder and vape pens.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
As Polis prepared to sign the bill, five black-and-white, 13-week-old puppies — Benedict, Daphne, Violet, Eloise and Hyacinth — lounged, climbed over one another, leaned into a reporter’s mic and cuddled in a pair of pens on the Capitol foyer’s floor.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026
The visual, which was edited by Mikayla LoBasso, was filmed inside of a stationery store, featuring the song’s lyrics written with different pens on paper scattered throughout the store.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
But there was more screaming, fighting and stabbing pens.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
In 1945, Eversharp, manufacturers of pens and pencils, signed Welles to a sponsorship deal for his radio program, The Orson Welles Almanac, with Welles set to endorse the brand in exchange for support.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Yousafzai pens a portrait of a young woman discovering her identity amid immense pressure.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The series kicks off when Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), a member of a powerful Oklahoma family, pens a suicide note, hides it inside a book on his shelves, and then shoots himself in the head.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
The plot kicks off when the Reverend Mother (a delightful Olivia Colman), who runs the Home for Retired Bears, pens a dire message to Paddington about his beloved Aunt Lucy.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
Books, pens and paper were all banned, Samoudi said.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The event evolved from typical ranch work; cattle herds are often separated into pens for veterinary needs or transport.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Instead of dinglehoppers, Agnes has pens and keychains and even a crackpipe with a lovely rose inside.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Fentanyl also can come in powder and vape pens.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
As Polis prepared to sign the bill, five black-and-white, 13-week-old puppies — Benedict, Daphne, Violet, Eloise and Hyacinth — lounged, climbed over one another, leaned into a reporter’s mic and cuddled in a pair of pens on the Capitol foyer’s floor.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026
The visual, which was edited by Mikayla LoBasso, was filmed inside of a stationery store, featuring the song’s lyrics written with different pens on paper scattered throughout the store.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
But there was more screaming, fighting and stabbing pens.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
In 1945, Eversharp, manufacturers of pens and pencils, signed Welles to a sponsorship deal for his radio program, The Orson Welles Almanac, with Welles set to endorse the brand in exchange for support.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Amazon moved fast to board the project and the film will now be a big priority at the studio as Loeb pens the script.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Yousafzai pens a portrait of a young woman discovering her identity amid immense pressure.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The series kicks off when Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), a member of a powerful Oklahoma family, pens a suicide note, hides it inside a book on his shelves, and then shoots himself in the head.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
The plot kicks off when the Reverend Mother (a delightful Olivia Colman), who runs the Home for Retired Bears, pens a dire message to Paddington about his beloved Aunt Lucy.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pens. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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