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 of penalize

• 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

My takeaway from a decade of litigation is that Facebook has been penalized for misleading users and regulators about its data practices and its response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. — Emma L. Briant, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026

He had been penalized twice this season before Sunday’s game — once for holding, another time for a false start. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Kansas City was penalized 11 times for 105 yards, but the team didn’t commit any turnovers during the game. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Our rankings penalize schools for having DEI bureaucracies and putting that ideology in their mission statements. — Ian Kingsbury, Sun Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for penalize

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

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