punish

1 of 2

verb

pun·​ish ˈpə-nish 

punished; punishing; punishes

transitive verb

1

a

: to impose a penalty on for a fault, offense, or violation

b

: to inflict a penalty for the commission of (an offense) in retribution or retaliation

2

a

: to deal with roughly or harshly

b

: to inflict injury on : hurt

intransitive verb

: to inflict punishment

punishability

ˌpə-nish-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

punishable

ˈpə-nish-ə-bəl 

adjective

punisher noun

punisher

2 of 2

noun

pun·​ish·​er

ˈpənishə(r)

plural -s

: one that inflicts punishment

Synonyms of punish

Verb

• penalize
• fine
• criticize
• chastise
• sentence
• convict
• discipline
• correct

Choose the Right Synonym for punish

punish, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing.

punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Examples of punish in a Sentence

Verb

I think that murderers should be punished by life imprisonment.

She was punished for lying.

His parents punished him by taking away his allowance.

How should I punish my child's misbehavior?

State law punishes fraud with fines.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Until news broke late Monday night that the league office had issued a warning to those two players who wrote the verses that any further writing would be punished. —Ian Miller , Alexandra Koch Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026

In January, the Board of Medical Examiners grappled with how to punish Ricky Lee Jackson, a doctor who was licensed in Tennessee and had been sanctioned and fined by Washington state's medical commission. —ABC News, 17 June 2026

These were actions of mayhem and destruction and must be severely punished. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026

Those involved insist this is not about punishing either princess or making a statement about their personal conduct. —Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English punisshen, from Anglo-French puniss-, stem of punir, from Latin punire, from poena penalty — more at pain entry 1

Noun

Middle English punisere, from punissen to punish + -ere -er

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

punish

verb

pun·​ish ˈpən-ish 

1

: to cause to experience pain or suffering for having done wrong

punish criminals with imprisonment

2

: to inflict punishment for

punish misbehavior

3

: to deal with or handle severely or roughly

badly punished by an opponent

punishable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

punisher noun

Legal Definition

punish

transitive verb

pun·​ish ˈpə-nish 

1

: to impose a penalty on for a fault, offense, or violation

2

: to inflict a penalty for the commission of (an offense) in retribution or retaliation or as a deterrent

intransitive verb

: to inflict punishment

punishability

ˌpə-ni-shə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

punishable

ˈpə-ni-shə-bəl 

adjective

punisher noun