as in to punish
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
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Recent Examples of penalize
According to the outlet, the medical center argued that their staff face complex decisions daily and should not be penalized for every mistake.
—
Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
The Hornets were penalized three times for 25 yards.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
The state distributes funding largely based on average daily attendance, but school districts can avoid potentially being penalized for low attendance because of events that impact the health, safety or welfare of students.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025
Gabriel was penalized for intentional grounding inside his own end zone, giving the Patriots a safety and 32-13 lead.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
The Hornets were penalized three times for 25 yards.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
The state distributes funding largely based on average daily attendance, but school districts can avoid potentially being penalized for low attendance because of events that impact the health, safety or welfare of students.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025
Gabriel was penalized for intentional grounding inside his own end zone, giving the Patriots a safety and 32-13 lead.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalize
punish
Verb
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More than a month after one of its professors was arrested on charges of violent felonies at an anti-ICE rally, an elite private university has refused to say whether the academic has been punished.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The National Lunch Company terminated her employment — which was a common practice used by the white power structure in the South to punish civil rights activists.—
Time,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalize. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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