prisoners

noun

plural of prisoner
as in captives
one that has been taken and held in confinement the prisoners were fed only bread and water twice a day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prisoners For about a dozen years, Feddon had visited prisoners on Florida’s death row as their appeals wound their way through the courts. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 The agency has instructed contractors that families at the facility cannot be referred to as prisoners, detainees or inmates, records show. — Jack Brook, ABC News, 6 July 2026 Jails already have a poor record safeguarding prisoners who go into withdrawal upon incarceration. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 June 2026 Moriarty is hiding both Sherlock and Lady Tewkesbury in a cell, and both of the prisoners are trying to figure out why she's chosen them. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 July 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 It’s loosely based on an actual Chilean colony where German expatriates tortured prisoners at the behest of General Pinochet. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prisoners
captives
Noun
  • The hijackers had threatened to execute the 106 captives if their demands were not met.
    — Anne Neuberger, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Definition of captives

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prisoner
prisoners
prisons
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Cite this Entry

“Prisoners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prisoners. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prisoners

Nglish: Translation of prisoners for Spanish Speakers

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