PUNITIVE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

punitive

adjective

ˈpyü-nə-tiv

Definition of punitive

as in correctional

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment any misbehavior was immediately met with a punitive response the company had to pay a million dollars in punitive damages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of punitive The South Korean announcement came days after its President Lee Jae Myung threatened to take unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 Rather than imposing more punitive rules on all shoppers, however, retailers should identify high-risk returns and apply additional verification selectively to protect the customer experience for the vast swathe of legitimate patrons. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 The measure would have barred Switzerland from joining punitive measures against other countries unless they were imposed by the United Nations. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026 When the vast majority of minor leaguers never reach the majors, the arithmetic clears only when the terms on the few who do are punitive enough to fund the rest. — Chris Koras, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punitive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive

Adjective

In general, correctional officers should not be involved with inmates’ medical decisions, but health care providers do not have the authority to remove restraints; such decisions reside with the correctional facility.

— M. Sara Rosenthal, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026
Just under 34,000 employees work for the agency, but not all are correctional officers.

— Scott Peyton, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of correctional

Adjective

McKnight ordered the restrictions after the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), which handles certain disciplinary actions involving clergy, issued a penal precept for Kallal.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
Some of those lawmakers also want structural shifts in the country’s penal system, drawing inspiration from the mass-incarceration model of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, if Bolsonaro wins and wants to spend funds toward that end.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of penal

Adjective

The questions must be what caused the accident, whether it could have been prevented, and what corrective action the evidence demands.

— Dennis Speigel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Its damage-control component detects vessel damage and takes corrective action.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026