as in captives
one that has been taken and held in confinement
the prisoners were fed only bread and water twice a day
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Recent Examples of prisoners
Israel has historically negotiated with Palestinian militant groups to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees even as critics warned the practice could encourage more kidnappings.
—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Jails already have a poor record safeguarding prisoners who go into withdrawal upon incarceration.
—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
26 June 2026
But as the inmate and his fellow prisoners journey into the wilderness, the real threat isn’t the trek, but the betrayal and violence festering within their ranks.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
One of the most significant findings in recent research is that religion appears to help prisoners develop a sense of purpose and identity that extends beyond their criminal convictions.
—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
After his release from prison, Landor sued the individual prison guards for money damages under a federal law enacted by Congress to protect the religious rights of prisoners.
—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
23 June 2026
But Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the justices had to consider how their decision could affect other situations – even outside of the religious rights of prisoners − in which public employees could be sued.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
Ten federal courts of appeals held that the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act does not allow prisoners to sue prison officials in their personal capacities for damages, and now the Supreme Court has agreed.
—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Ironically, Vonnegut and 150 of his fellow prisoners were safely locked in a slaughterhouse meat locker while the city burned.
—
Spin Team,
SPIN,
22 June 2026
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Jails already have a poor record safeguarding prisoners who go into withdrawal upon incarceration.
—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
26 June 2026
But as the inmate and his fellow prisoners journey into the wilderness, the real threat isn’t the trek, but the betrayal and violence festering within their ranks.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
One of the most significant findings in recent research is that religion appears to help prisoners develop a sense of purpose and identity that extends beyond their criminal convictions.
—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
After his release from prison, Landor sued the individual prison guards for money damages under a federal law enacted by Congress to protect the religious rights of prisoners.
—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
23 June 2026
But Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the justices had to consider how their decision could affect other situations – even outside of the religious rights of prisoners − in which public employees could be sued.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
Ten federal courts of appeals held that the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act does not allow prisoners to sue prison officials in their personal capacities for damages, and now the Supreme Court has agreed.
—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Ironically, Vonnegut and 150 of his fellow prisoners were safely locked in a slaughterhouse meat locker while the city burned.
—
Spin Team,
SPIN,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prisoners
captives
Noun
-
It is thought to be the only slave revolution in history where the former captives overthrew their rulers and went on to govern the country themselves.
-
On a day in mid-July, three men kidnapped a bus full of schoolchildren and forced their captives into an underground bunker where they were buried alive.
Cite this Entry
“Prisoners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prisoners. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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