as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
earned six years in a federal pen
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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
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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
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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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Recent Examples of pens
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
The wallet wasn’t quite a wallet, actually, but, rather, a black leather pouch large enough to comfortably hold her passport, residencia card, credit card, debit cards, Metrobús card, and house keys, as well as a small Polaroid of Andrés, two pens, and seven thousand pesos in cash.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Investigators later uncovered multiple insulin pens near his bedside and questioned inconsistencies in Hartsfield’s statements.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The second slide shows Labubu merch, such as hair clips, keychains, and pens.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025
The border detention camps Martin consulted contemporary and historic photos of border camps to design the chilling compounds where children and families are held in chain-link fencing pens.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Under Niccol, Starbucks has brought back its tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the food and drink menu; ended its open-bathroom policy for non-paying customers; and laid off 1,100 corporate employees in February.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Sharpies, markers or paint pens.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Now, Montblanc wants to enter the tech sphere with a new digital writing pad, inspired by its century of experience producing pens.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
Decorate with ribbons, tiaras, stencils, paint pens, and more.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
The wallet wasn’t quite a wallet, actually, but, rather, a black leather pouch large enough to comfortably hold her passport, residencia card, credit card, debit cards, Metrobús card, and house keys, as well as a small Polaroid of Andrés, two pens, and seven thousand pesos in cash.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Investigators later uncovered multiple insulin pens near his bedside and questioned inconsistencies in Hartsfield’s statements.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The second slide shows Labubu merch, such as hair clips, keychains, and pens.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025
The border detention camps Martin consulted contemporary and historic photos of border camps to design the chilling compounds where children and families are held in chain-link fencing pens.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Under Niccol, Starbucks has brought back its tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the food and drink menu; ended its open-bathroom policy for non-paying customers; and laid off 1,100 corporate employees in February.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Sharpies, markers or paint pens.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Now, Montblanc wants to enter the tech sphere with a new digital writing pad, inspired by its century of experience producing pens.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Cite this Entry
“Pens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pens. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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