unpunished

adjective un·pun·ished \ ˌən-ˈpə-nisht \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of unpunished

: not punished

an unpunished criminal/crime

an offense that should not be allowed to go unpunished

See unpunished defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unpunished from the Web

On a recent Wednesday at United Nations headquarters, during the annual forum dedicated to indigenous people’s issues, a delegation of Chakma people from Bangladesh brought her a list of killings and rapes that have gone unpunished.

— somini sengupta, New York Times, "She Stands Up to Power. Now, She’s Afraid to Go Home.," 3 May 2018
But media groups say this is not enough, especially as violent incidents against journalists almost always go unpunished.

— olof blomqvist, Time, "Afghanistan's Media Is a Success Story. Two Attacks Show It Must Be Protected," 1 May 2018
Jimenez was quoted by Andina as saying his office was working meticulously to make sure the killings of Woodroffe and Arevalo would not go unpunished.

— joshua berlinger, CNN, "Two suspects held over lynching of Canadian in Peru," 24 Apr. 2018
British officials say the world -- including the EU -- must show Russia that the first use of nerve agent on European soil since the end of World War II will not go unpunished.

— tim ross, Bloomberg.com, "May to Tell Allies to Beware Russia, Expel Putin’s Spies, Sources Say," 21 Mar. 2018
It should be known that at the Criminal Court the aggressors, unpunished, contemptuous and proud, are mixed in with their victims.

— alice gayraud, Marie Claire, "La Maison des Femmes," 10 Mar. 2018
As a law professor, Warren became an expert on consumer debt and personal bankruptcy, which led her to believe that US credit institutions frequently took advantage of average Americans with tricks and traps that mostly went unpunished.

— liz goodwin, BostonGlobe.com, "Warren’s consumer dream dismantled," 3 Mar. 2018
Chelsea's inability to find the net again didn't go unpunished as Abdoulaye Doucoure volleyed Watford back level in first-half stoppage time.

— SI.com, "Watford vs Chelsea Match Preview: Classic Encounter, Key Battle, Team News & More," 5 Feb. 2018
One of the most thoroughgoing unpunished scandals of the second Bush Administration was its unconscionable politicization of the Department of Justice—an unprecedented malfeasance in office unmatched until this present bunch came to Washington.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Here's Your Shocking Trump Judicial Nominee of the Day," 10 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unpunished.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.