punishes; punished; punishing
1
a
: to make (someone) suffer for a crime or for bad behavior
I think that murderers should be punished by/with life imprisonment.
She was punished for lying.
His parents punished him by taking away his allowance.
b
: to make someone suffer for (a crime or bad behavior)
How should I punish my child's misbehavior?
State law punishes fraud with fines.
The law states that treason shall be punished by death. [=that the punishment for treason is death]
2
: to treat (someone or something) severely or roughly
I don't understand why women continue to punish [=damage] their feet by wearing high-heeled shoes.
Cite this Entry
“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/punish. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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