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
The Romans were masters at using rewards and punishment to manage foreign states, from grants of citizenship to massacres of rebels.
—
Barry Strauss, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Language purists like to remind anyone who will listen that decimation actually means the slaughter of one in ten people, and was the military punishment wielded by the Roman army against deserters and mutineers.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker Patrick Queen has been hit with a steep punishment by the NFL for his actions in the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Where Gentle Parenting Might Be Lacking Gentle parenting emphasizes empathy and respectful communication without harsh punishment, explains Cynthia Vejar, PhD, LPC, program director and associate professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lebanon Valley College.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punishment
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Barry Strauss, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Language purists like to remind anyone who will listen that decimation actually means the slaughter of one in ten people, and was the military punishment wielded by the Roman army against deserters and mutineers.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker Patrick Queen has been hit with a steep punishment by the NFL for his actions in the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Where Gentle Parenting Might Be Lacking Gentle parenting emphasizes empathy and respectful communication without harsh punishment, explains Cynthia Vejar, PhD, LPC, program director and associate professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lebanon Valley College.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punishment
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punishment. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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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