1
as in fine
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
Zentner ranked seventh of goalkeepers for the total number of defensive actions outside his penalty area last season.
—
Beren Cross, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The agency enforces a zero-tolerance policy for unruly conduct, carrying the potential for civil penalties and criminal charges, depending on the incident severity.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
The stewards noted the controversial incident and hit the McLaren driver with the penalty that cost him the race.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 6 July 2025
There’s no legitimate reason businesses need to be shelling out money for lawyers and civil penalties over such things.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Beren Cross, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The agency enforces a zero-tolerance policy for unruly conduct, carrying the potential for civil penalties and criminal charges, depending on the incident severity.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
The stewards noted the controversial incident and hit the McLaren driver with the penalty that cost him the race.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 6 July 2025
There’s no legitimate reason businesses need to be shelling out money for lawyers and civil penalties over such things.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
Anyone found in violation of the measure could have to pay the state as much as $10,000 in fines.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
-
Apple has now formally appealed one of its latest fines in Europe connected to its digital marketplace.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
But rather than reacting with a punishment, bring it back to building your relationship, Jordan says.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
30 June 2025
-
Márquez’s success prevented him from leaving Cuba, and as a result, he was sent to work in agriculture as punishment.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Walking away entirely from UNEP would put us at a disadvantage.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
As my colleague Hayley Smith reports, weakening the three agencies at the start of fire season puts California at a dangerous disadvantage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Arriving in 2014 – after earning the wrath of the Egyptian government for covering the Arab Spring as a freelance journalist – one of Greater Cincinnati’s newest immigration detainees has lived in Oregon, Chicago and Cincinnati.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
11 July 2025
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Democrats weren’t the only ones to feel the wrath of Minaj on Tuesday.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Under the program, up to five new housing projects restricted to those making between 60-100% of the area median income will be exempt from paying property taxes and state sales taxes on construction expenses in return for giving the DHA a small ownership stake in the real estate.—
Matthew Geiger,
Denver Post,
4 July 2025
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In addition to the tax cuts, businesses (employers) will be permitted to continue writing off equipment costs and expenses in the first year of purchase.—
Terina Allen,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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