1
as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the ongoing debate whether drug users should go to prison
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in captivities
the act of confining or the state of being confined
the view that prison does nothing to cure the criminal—if anything, it makes him worse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prisons
In recent years, California has closed five prisons, with another potentially coming.
—
Sarah Anderson, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Over time, federal prosecutors say, several of these groups operating in the prisons evolved into violent criminal organizations such as Los Tiburones and Ñetas, with memberships in the thousands.
—Raquel Rutledge, ProPublica, 5 May 2026
Some prisons are scrambling to stop drones from dropping contraband inside their gates.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Fitzpatrick said that most inmates in Texas prisons, including those serving a life sentence without parole for capital murder, are housed either in a dorm type of environment or in a cellbock with other prisoners.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
The Farallon Capital Management hedge fund has been a liability for Steyer, in part due to its investments in private prisons that now house undocumented immigrants.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The bullet points highlight Steyer’s hedge fund’s investments in fossil fuel, tobacco, private prisons and casinos.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Pennsylvania prisons now give suboxone to thousands of inmates with a substance abuse history, with thousands more on the waiting list.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 1 May 2026
After entering reform school at the age of 9, Coe spent most of the next 20 years of his life in and out of prisons for charges ranging from armed robbery to auto theft, according to a 2005 Rolling Stone article.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Sarah Anderson, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Over time, federal prosecutors say, several of these groups operating in the prisons evolved into violent criminal organizations such as Los Tiburones and Ñetas, with memberships in the thousands.
—Raquel Rutledge, ProPublica, 5 May 2026
Some prisons are scrambling to stop drones from dropping contraband inside their gates.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Fitzpatrick said that most inmates in Texas prisons, including those serving a life sentence without parole for capital murder, are housed either in a dorm type of environment or in a cellbock with other prisoners.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
The Farallon Capital Management hedge fund has been a liability for Steyer, in part due to its investments in private prisons that now house undocumented immigrants.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The bullet points highlight Steyer’s hedge fund’s investments in fossil fuel, tobacco, private prisons and casinos.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Pennsylvania prisons now give suboxone to thousands of inmates with a substance abuse history, with thousands more on the waiting list.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 1 May 2026
After entering reform school at the age of 9, Coe spent most of the next 20 years of his life in and out of prisons for charges ranging from armed robbery to auto theft, according to a 2005 Rolling Stone article.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prisons
Noun
-
The field office constantly coördinated with local social-services agencies, hospitals, funeral homes, jails.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
It was not considered controversial when the Obama administration placed immigration enforcement officials in county jails to coordinate the removal of individuals convicted of serious crimes, so that same level of cooperation should not be controversial today.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Once a technically complicated legal rarity used to challenge improper incarcerations, habeas corpus petitions have become the predominant avenue for immigrants seeking release from detentions that increasingly end only with a deportation order.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Despite their felony convictions and impending incarcerations, both former Met police career criminals continue to collect their monthly kisses in the mail — $8,850 a month for Cederquist and $6,020 for Butner.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prisons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prisons. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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