punishment
noun
pun·ish·ment
ˈpə-nish-mənt 
1
: the act of punishing
2
a
: suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution
b
: a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
Examples of punishment in a Sentence
I took away my daughter's car keys as a punishment for her bad behavior.
The punishments that the government has inflicted on the protesters are severe and unjust.
The punishment for murder is life imprisonment.
Some religions teach that wicked people will suffer eternal punishment in hell after they die.
Recent Examples on the Web
But unlike an initial version of the law that was made public in December, the county will levy no fines on retailers for failing to do so — instead leaving any decision about punishment to a local court.
—
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
The county Department of Consumer and Business Affairs relied on cease-and-desist letters and warning notices and not as much on financial recovery for tenants or punishment against rent gougers, the report concluded.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Fisher, for one, was cited for a major campus disruption on par with making a bomb threat, receiving a three-day out-of-school suspension — a punishment his family immediately challenged.
—Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee meets to discuss House Bill 894, which would allow courts to review and resentence certain cases where the punishment of life without parole was imposed.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punishment
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John Aguilar, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
The county Department of Consumer and Business Affairs relied on cease-and-desist letters and warning notices and not as much on financial recovery for tenants or punishment against rent gougers, the report concluded.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Fisher, for one, was cited for a major campus disruption on par with making a bomb threat, receiving a three-day out-of-school suspension — a punishment his family immediately challenged.
—Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee meets to discuss House Bill 894, which would allow courts to review and resentence certain cases where the punishment of life without parole was imposed.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punishment
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punishment. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punishment
noun
pun·ish·ment
ˈpən-ish-mənt
1
a
: the act of punishing
b
: the state or fact of being punished
persons undergoing punishment
2
: the penalty for a fault or crime
the punishment for robbery
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
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