pen 1 of 5

noun (1)

Definition of pennext
as in penitentiary
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody earned six years in a federal pen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pen

2 of 5

noun (2)

as in cage
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals a goat pen

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pen

3 of 5

noun (3)

as in writer
a person who creates a written work Alexander Hamilton is reckoned to be the pseudonymous pen behind two thirds of the Federalist Papers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pen

4 of 5

verb (1)

ˈpen How to pronounce pen (audio)
as in to house
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over

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pen

5 of 5

verb (2)

as in to write
to compose and set down on paper the words of though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era

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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 pen
Noun
James Talarico’s Senate campaign is celebrating an endorsement from an unlikely political figure — a Texas attorney who once accused Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton of stealing his $1,000 Montblanc pen. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2026 The pricey pen belonged to Joe Joplin, a local attorney who received the pen as a gift from his wife. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
The two lawmakers have intensely criticized Fauci over the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic for years, with Paul recently releasing diary entries penned by Fauci during the height of the pandemic. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 In writing an op-ed for Deadline on Monday, the Democratic attorney general is countering a New York Times guest essay penned by Paramount CEO David Ellison last week. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pen
  1. penitentiary
  2. cage
  3. writer
  4. house
  5. write
  6. jail
  7. coop
  8. author
Noun
  • Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, is set to die by lethal injection at the state’s penitentiary in rural McAlester.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of her clients has gone MIA from the state penitentiary – but how can a man go missing in prison?
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of penitentiary
Noun
  • Hunt and her team eventually traced the genetic changes to a new cleaning method eroding the polycarbonate cages that housed the animals.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The bike arrives fully equipped, with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, integrated lights, full fenders, a rear cargo rack, and a bottle-cage mount.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cage
Noun
  • Taylor Swift will be adding another trophy to her shelf, as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that the superstar will be inducted into the hall this fall, becoming, at 36, the youngest writer ever to receive the honor.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
  • It’s been my privilege to learn, from scholars and thinkers and writers far more deeply rooted than myself in the American west, about its realities and relentless contradictions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of writer
Verb
  • Grafton Correctional Institution houses just over 2,000 inmates for minimum and medium security levels and has been in operation since 1988, according to the facility.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The nonprofit operating the home, Inside Circle, purchased the property and plans to house people transitioning back into the community after serving time in prison.
    — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of house
Verb
  • Read that figure with caution, since Arcade writes the rubric and sells the remedy.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The choice, as Asli Pelit writes, reflects not only the show’s new storyline but also the sport’s changing reality.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of write
Noun
  • Children taken into state care because the parents are sitting in jail unconvicted.
    — Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The ex-wife of Detroit rapper Eminem was sent to jail on Thursday after there were multiple bond violations, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of jail
Noun
  • The virus is shed in wild bird saliva, nasal secretions and feces, so even droppings near the coop can carry it.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Replace bedding completely, deep-clean the coop floor, walls, roosts and boxes, inspect hardware cloth and latches and check each bird individually for signs of illness or injury.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Definition of coop
Noun
  • Assessing the entries this year were a total of six panels, comprised of independent experts from across the industry, including top writers, authors and broadcasters from England and Scotland.
    — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Follow-up research is needed to really prove bedbugs actually are spreading MRSA to people, said one of the study's authors, Jose Pietri, who is now at Purdue University.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of author

Browse Nearby Words

pelts
pen
penal
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Cite this Entry

“Pen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pen. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pen

Nglish: Translation of pen for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pen

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