as in penitentiaries
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
joked about the time he passed out on the street and woke up in the pokey
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pokeys
Noun
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Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026 -
The wave of prison violence is happening despite the deployment of military and police forces in several penitentiaries.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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For decades, the Orange County branch of the Mexican Mafia was led by Peter Ojeda, a longtime Santa Ana gang chieftain who maintained control over the local streets and jails even after a federal racketeering conviction in 2006 left him in a prison cell three time zones away.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
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He has been held in jails in New York and Los Angeles, and for a time in New York state prison, since his first conviction in 2020.—
Karla Cote,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Mexican Mafia, described as the largest and most powerful gang operating from inside state prisons, controls gangs throughout Southern California.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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These journalists filled space with their reviews and a host of other stories related to theater including the work of theater productions in prisons, education, and other areas.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
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“Pokeys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pokeys. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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