as in prisoner
a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence had spent most of his sorry life as a jailbird in hoosegows across the South

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Examples 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 jailbird Becomes a jailbird at a high-security zoo after he’s caught, with the newest Wallace & Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl, finding Feathers, all these years later, hell-bent on getting even with the duo who locked him up. Devon Ivie, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025 When Canton jailbird selectman Chris Albert did six months in prison in 1994 for a hit-and-run homicide, who was his lawyer? A. Judge Auntie Bev B. Meatball Morrissey C. Auntie Bev’s brother D. Adam Lally 2. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 14 July 2024 Plot: Homer acquires Snake’s luxurious hair after the jailbird is sent to the electric chair. Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 Movies Review: ‘Joker: Folie á Deux’ pairs two singing jailbirds but skimps on supervillainy Oct. 4, 2024 The movie was expected to fall short of the original’s impressive debut after generating only $7 million in Thursday previews. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024 Twenty years later, an actress named Selma Vaz Dias, who wanted to dramatize Good Morning, Midnight on the radio, found her living in poverty and obscurity in the English countryside with a third husband who also ended an embezzler and a jailbird. Vivian Gornick, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2023 The jailbird and guard stayed in touch over the phone, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 11 May 2022 Rick Flag, who attempts to keep our jailbird antiheroes in line. Clark Collis, EW.com, 22 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jailbird
Noun
  • And in instead of pay—which for some is pennies per hour—the prisoners’ wages are often garnished to pay for things like their own room and board and court fees to appeal their cases.
    Doug Melville, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
  • But agreeing to release an Afghan prisoner at Guantánamo could be politically trickier for Biden, who has come under withering criticism from lawmakers over the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan in August 2021.
    Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Though the state has long relied on prison labor to fight fires, the practice is controversial as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The practice is controversial as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work: $10.24 each day, with more for 24-hour shifts, according to the corrections department.
    Marc Sternfield, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Notably, the Supreme Court ruled in 1927 that a president may grant reprieves and pardons without the convict's consent.
    Landon Mion, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Bart Jansen: Pardon power comes down through English law and the tradition that allowed the king to extend mercy for convicts.
    Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • While behind bars for one of his many cons, Steven falls in love with Phillip Morris, played by Ewan McGregor.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Ellis is back on the police force after Max got away with an elaborate con worth millions during the season finale.
    Gabriela Silva, TVLine, 6 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near jailbird

Cite this Entry

“Jailbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jailbird. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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