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
In 2024, Carano filed suit in California federal court alleging wrongful termination and discrimination, as well as a demand that the court should force Lucasfilm to cast her again and pay at least $75,000 in punitive damages.
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Katcy Stephan, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
The lawsuit is seeking damages for physical and emotional harm, along with attorney fees and punitive damages.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Apart from the latest proposal, awards in some cases are likely to increase, since lawmakers recently added punitive damages and pre-judgment interest to wrongful death verdicts.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Some common gaps in coverage can include punitive damages, claims arising from fraud or intentional misconduct and newer risks like data breaches or cyber liability.
—Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive damages
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Katcy Stephan, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
The lawsuit is seeking damages for physical and emotional harm, along with attorney fees and punitive damages.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Apart from the latest proposal, awards in some cases are likely to increase, since lawmakers recently added punitive damages and pre-judgment interest to wrongful death verdicts.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Some common gaps in coverage can include punitive damages, claims arising from fraud or intentional misconduct and newer risks like data breaches or cyber liability.
—Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
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 21 Aug. 2025.
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