punish

verb

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pun·ish | \ ˈpə-nish

punished; punishing; punishes

Definition of punish

transitive verb

1a : 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

2a : to deal with roughly or harshly

b : to inflict injury on : hurt

intransitive verb

: to inflict punishment

Other Words from punish Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about punish

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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

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 But deciding exactly who is punished for violating Gov. Eric Holcomb's stay-at-home order is complicated. — Ethan May, Indianapolis Star, "How police, prosecutors decide whether to cite for violating Indiana's stay-at-home order," 3 Apr. 2020 Almost two months have passed since the death of the whistleblower doctor who was punished by police for sending warning messages in a chat group about the new coronavirus. — Los Angeles Times, "Coronavirus killed China’s whistleblower doctor. Now the virus has changed how the country can mourn him," 3 Apr. 2020 The message is similar to those received by healthcare workers in Washington and Illinois, who have been punished for voicing concerns about the lack of protective equipment available to staff. — Spencer Neale, Washington Examiner, "'Muzzling nurses': Hospital workers threatened with 'termination' for voicing coronavirus shortages," 31 Mar. 2020 Conditional citizens are policed and punished more harshly than others by the state. — Laila Lalami, Harper's Magazine, "Bright Stars," 30 Mar. 2020 Public anger erupted in February when a doctor who was punished for warning his colleagues about the coronavirus died, prompting censors to redouble their efforts to stifle public criticism. — Steven Lee Myers, BostonGlobe.com, "China claims that the US army started the coronavirus," 13 Mar. 2020 Kansas law currently says a third conviction is a felony that can be punished by up to 14 months in prison, though offenders often receive probation. — USA TODAY, "In vitro cheetahs, Devils Tower, ‘SMART Marina’: News from around our 50 states," 26 Feb. 2020 Fields, who is considered the ringleader, is the only person who has been punished so far. — Lavendrick Smith, Dallas News, "Trial to begin for one of 4 men charged in the slaying of 13-year-old Shavon Randle," 24 Feb. 2020 City has already been punished by UEFA for violating FFP, striking an agreement in 2014 that saw the team fined rather than banned from the Champions League for inflated sponsorship deals with companies linked to the club or its ownership. — cleveland, "Manchester City banned from UEFA Champions League for two seasons for ‘breaches’ of spending rules," 14 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'punish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Apr 2020

Cite this Entry

“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punish. Accessed 8 May. 2020.

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More Definitions for punish

punish

verb

English Language Learners Definition of punish

: to make (someone) suffer for a crime or for bad behavior

: to make someone suffer for (a crime or bad behavior)

: to treat (someone or something) severely or roughly

See the full definition for punish in the English Language Learners Dictionary

punish

verb

pun·ish | \ ˈpə-nish

punished; punishing

Kids Definition of punish

1 : to make suffer for a fault or crime The child was punished for lying.

2 : to make someone suffer for (as a crime) The law punishes theft.

Choose the Right Synonym for punish

punish and discipline mean to put a penalty on someone for doing wrong. punish means giving some kind of pain or suffering to the wrongdoer often rather than trying to reform the person. The criminals were punished with life imprisonment. discipline is used of punishing the wrongdoer but usually includes an effort to bring the person under control. Parents must discipline their children.

punish

transitive verb

pun·ish | \ ˈpə-nish