as in reformative
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition
the belief that manual labor was a reformatory experience for convicted felons, who would learn the value of hard work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in reform school
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reformatory
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
His mother sent him to the Élan School in Maine, a reformatory boarding institution with extreme forms of discipline, including shouting sessions and boxing matches, that attracted widespread criticism and that led to the school’s closing in 2011.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
On the cusp of college, he’s instead sentenced to time at a notorious reformatory.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reformatory
Adjective
While Spanish Catholicism and reformatory Protestantism favored black clothing, much of the Renaissance happened in an explosion of color.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
His mother sent him to the Élan School in Maine, a reformatory boarding institution with extreme forms of discipline, including shouting sessions and boxing matches, that attracted widespread criticism and that led to the school’s closing in 2011.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
James Thompson remembered the words of the state psychologist he was required to visit weekly in Charlotte after being released from the state reformatory.
—Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
On the cusp of college, he’s instead sentenced to time at a notorious reformatory.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reformatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reformatory
Adjective
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As part of the reformative aims of the convict system, many of these men were incarcerated at Fremantle Prison, trained, and put to work on infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and public buildings.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
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Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix.—
The Arizona Republic,
The Arizona Republic,
14 Jan. 2024
Noun
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Skakel made it through reform school and rebuilt his life.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
3 Nov. 2025
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Steve is a reimagining of Max Porter’s 2023 Sunday Times bestseller Shy, and twists that story on its axis to be told from reform school headteacher Steve’s point of view.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For Turner-Smith, who has had her share of death onscreen in various film and television projects, another round with Kaluuya could serve as a corrective to that.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In conjunction with the 20-day MA, the weekly stochastics have rolled over for NEM in support of several weeks of corrective price action.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The dungeon stands to swallow yet another Pakistani prime minister.—
Rafia Zakaria,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Mia sang it to Riley inside Norma’s dungeon to trigger her memories.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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New York Therapy Animals' therapy dogs are trained at our NYC training school.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Other directives call for enforcement of tougher department-wide fitness standards and calls for a 60-day review of what is taught at the military service academies and training schools.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Although Russia is a militant autocracy, the reason for Putin’s lifetime presidency isn’t gulags, mass executions, or forced labor.—
Andrew Ryvkin,
The Atlantic,
14 Oct. 2025
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Many thousands of scientists were killed or sent to the gulag, where a significant percentage died.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One is a stony oubliette with crystals growing out of the walls.—
Erin Alberty,
Axios,
6 Jan. 2025
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This godown was an oubliette.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper’s Magazine ,
7 Dec. 2021
Noun
-
This silk scarf earns its keep a dozen times over.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
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In Secretary Doug Burgum’s view, Yosemite is a good park—one that attracts visitors and earns its keep.—
Gloria Liu,
Outside Online,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reformatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reformatory. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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