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 family challenged these unfair punishments.
—
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
One teacher could impose a more stringent punishment than another for the same misdeed.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
The fight While punishments for people who've caused fatal crashes while high have varied wildly from state to state, Resecker's sentence stands out for being unusually tough, especially given his young age, according to a USA TODAY review of similar cases.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
The decision followed a court finding that Ragan's cognitive disabilities meant the death penalty was not the appropriate punishment, nearly a decade after the crime was committed.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punishment
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Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
One teacher could impose a more stringent punishment than another for the same misdeed.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
The fight While punishments for people who've caused fatal crashes while high have varied wildly from state to state, Resecker's sentence stands out for being unusually tough, especially given his young age, according to a USA TODAY review of similar cases.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
The decision followed a court finding that Ragan's cognitive disabilities meant the death penalty was not the appropriate punishment, nearly a decade after the crime was committed.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 10 Mar. 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 14 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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