PRISONERS Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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 More recently, the outgoing governor — who is expected to run for president in 2028 — has mulled commuting all 536 state death row prisoners’ sentences to life without parole. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Hubbard was the last remaining American designated as wrongfully detained, although advocates say that label should be applied to other prisoners. — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Abuse of power seems particularly likely when male guards are put in charge of female prisoners, yet precisely this dynamic is the reality in many American prisons. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Attorneys for the prisoners urged the high court to allow the transition care to continue. — Julian Mark, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 And prisoners brought a class action seeking reinstatement of the decades-long health policy. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 Instead, the prisoners challenged the guards and gained the upper hand. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026 Constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment prohibit deliberate indifference to prisoners’ medical needs. — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 Offering the Black Panther salute in tribute to the six Black prisoners found dead at Attica Prison, during the funeral held in Brooklyn. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prisoners

captives

Noun

Jacob and the Reacher-Green duo are once again captives, being (separately) driven to remote spots for execution.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
In a video widely shared on social media on Monday, a voice threatened to execute the captives if security operations against them continued.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of captives

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prisoner

prisoners

prisons

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“Prisoners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prisoners. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of prisoners

noun

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