penalize

verb

pe·​nal·​ize ˈpē-nə-ˌlīz  ˈpe- 

penalized; penalizing

transitive verb

1

: to inflict a penalty on

2

: to put at a serious disadvantage

penalization

ˈpē-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• punish

Examples of penalize in a Sentence

The company was penalized for not paying taxes.

The hockey player was penalized for holding.

This law would unfairly penalize immigrants.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Big 12 Conference is now enforcing a new rule enacted in the offseason that penalizes teams for objects being thrown on the field, and Texas Tech has been forced to institute the ban. —Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Texas Tech’s football team was penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct because fans hurled tortillas during a 42-17 win over Kansas earlier this month. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025

In addition to inflation, rising energy and shipping costs, artisan firms are also penalized by changing entertaining and dining habits. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025

The Texans were penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, and a few plays later, Seattle went up 14-0 on a 32-yard touchdown strike from Darnold to Cooper Kupp. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for penalize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

penalize

verb

pe·​nal·​ize ˈpēn-ᵊl-ˌīz  ˈpen- 

penalized; penalizing

1

: to give a penalty to

2

: to place at a disadvantage