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
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Recent Examples of punitive
What To Know The executive orders Trump imposed on various law firms, including Susman Godfrey, featured a number of punitive measures such as blocking their employees access to government buildings, terminating government contracts and suspending security clearance.
—
James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
The agreement struck in May in Geneva called for both sides to scale back punitive tariff hikes imposed as Trump escalated his trade war and sharply raised import duties.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Proactive Regulatory Engagement Rather than awaiting punitive laws, leaders should shape ethical norms:
• Fairness Pledges: Company commitments to cap surge pricing during crises, like natural disasters.
—Durga Krishnamoorthy, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
The same person that says this is daycare, games, goofing around, not punitive enough.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
The agreement struck in May in Geneva called for both sides to scale back punitive tariff hikes imposed as Trump escalated his trade war and sharply raised import duties.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Proactive Regulatory Engagement Rather than awaiting punitive laws, leaders should shape ethical norms:
• Fairness Pledges: Company commitments to cap surge pricing during crises, like natural disasters.
—Durga Krishnamoorthy, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
The same person that says this is daycare, games, goofing around, not punitive enough.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
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Iran’s Islamic Republic government likely will block it because, aside from Panahi’s outspoken stance against its stranglehold on democracy that has landed him in prison twice, the film is highly critical of Iran’s penal system on the back of the director’s own firsthand experiences.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
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In the report on El Salvador, whose penal system has become a dumping ground for migrants deported from the United States, there will be no details on the conditions in those prisons.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The recall will not be closed until the FDA determines corrective actions have addressed safety concerns.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
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Acknowledge failure promptly and plan corrective action. 5.—
Gisela Carere,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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