punitive damages
plural noun
: damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong
Examples of punitive damages in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The damages calculation included $7 million in punitive damages, meaning damages intended to punish the NBA.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Gutierrez was originally slated to receive $50,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages in connection with the success of his lawsuit.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Jurors awarded $35 million — including $20 million in punitive damages — to a woman raped by a nurse on three consecutive nights while unable to move or speak in Dignity Health Methodist Hospital’s ICU in 2016.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and asks for the case to be decided by a jury.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive damages
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Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Gutierrez was originally slated to receive $50,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages in connection with the success of his lawsuit.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Jurors awarded $35 million — including $20 million in punitive damages — to a woman raped by a nurse on three consecutive nights while unable to move or speak in Dignity Health Methodist Hospital’s ICU in 2016.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and asks for the case to be decided by a jury.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive damages
Cite this Entry
“Punitive damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive%20damages. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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