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 released roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire deal, many of whom were seized by Israeli troops during the more than two-year war and held without being charged.
—
Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Authorities said the prisoners were allowed to meet with close relatives before the executions were carried out.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Western nations and others described Iran as using those prisoners as bargaining chips in negotiations, particularly over its nuclear program.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The prisoners built a nativity scene that members of the community visited on Christmas Eve.
—Kim Norvell, Des Moines Register, 29 Jan. 2026
The operation began in October with the release of 20 living hostages by Hamas and 1,808 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, the ICRC said.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Biden's commutations on Monday changed the sentences of 37 of 40 death row prisoners to life in prison without parole.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
Witness accounts indicate two of the Ukrainian prisoners-of-war were forced onto a road, while the other two remained lying on the ground; all four were subsequently executed, a violation of the Geneva Conventions.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Monday's move spares the lives of people convicted in killings, including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities, AP reports.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Authorities said the prisoners were allowed to meet with close relatives before the executions were carried out.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Western nations and others described Iran as using those prisoners as bargaining chips in negotiations, particularly over its nuclear program.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The prisoners built a nativity scene that members of the community visited on Christmas Eve.
—Kim Norvell, Des Moines Register, 29 Jan. 2026
The operation began in October with the release of 20 living hostages by Hamas and 1,808 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, the ICRC said.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Biden's commutations on Monday changed the sentences of 37 of 40 death row prisoners to life in prison without parole.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
Witness accounts indicate two of the Ukrainian prisoners-of-war were forced onto a road, while the other two remained lying on the ground; all four were subsequently executed, a violation of the Geneva Conventions.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Monday's move spares the lives of people convicted in killings, including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities, AP reports.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prisoners
captives
Noun
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Global capability centers and captives, particularly in India and other low-cost locations, have expanded rapidly.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Some captives had come down with smallpox during an epidemic in Lima and carried it home, spreading it to others.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prisoners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prisoners. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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