Like many a soldier or prisoner given words to say (11)

I believe the answer is:

conscripted

'like many a soldier' is the definition.

'prisoner given words to say' is the wordplay.
'prisoner' becomes 'con' (abbreviation for 'convict').
'given words to say' becomes 'scripted' (following a script).
'con'+'scripted'='CONSCRIPTED'

'or' is the link.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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