unpunished

adjective

un·​pun·​ished ˌən-ˈpə-nisht How to pronounce unpunished (audio)
Synonyms of unpunishednext
: not punished
an unpunished criminal/crime
an offense that should not be allowed to go unpunished

Examples of unpunished in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the course of the Wicked films, Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba defies gravity, gets Fiyero seeing through different eyes, and learns that no good deed goes unpunished. Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025 Bonitto was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but the retaliation went unpunished. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025 Talk about no good deed going unpunished. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025 Still, no good deed goes unpunished, and the trip took an unfortunate turn when one of her drivers was detained near Mykolaiv after the motorcade was stopped at a checkpoint. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unpunished

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpunished was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unpunished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpunished. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.

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