PUNITIVE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

punitive

adjective

ˈpyü-nə-tiv

Definition of punitive

as in correctional

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment any misbehavior was immediately met with a punitive response the company had to pay a million dollars in punitive damages

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of punitive The South Carolina Army National Guard later said the suspensions were a routine, non-punitive safety measure, and the Pentagon subsequently lifted them. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Caught between two opposing cultures, drawing on a cache of letters, documents, and remembrances, Ferrer meticulously recounts the travails of one migrant family and a punitive legal system that dogged them, skewering ideals of equity and fairness. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026 The solution, therefore, cannot rely solely on punitive anti-cheating measures or intrusive surveillance technologies. — Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026 In response, Britain imposed the punitive Coercive Acts (1774), closing Boston Harbour and stripping Massachusetts of self-governance. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for punitive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive

Adjective

Corrections officials wanted to reduce a correctional officer’s pay by 5% for roughly 30 weeks after he was accused of using force against an inmate and failing to report a colleague’s use of force in two January 2024 incidents.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
Florida hasn’t executed more than one person in a single day since 1964, according to the state’s correctional records.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

Definition of correctional

Adjective

And in Minnesota, state officials have been executing a thorough corrective action plan to defray CMS concerns that have led the agency to defer some $260 million in federal money and to threaten future cuts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
With Inspectorio, Pistola Denim will standardize in-line and final inspections across its global supplier base and access real-time dashboards to monitor supply quality performance and streamline corrective action management.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 July 2026