as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
Australia was once a penal colony
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penal
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
Convicted in London for conducting clandestine marriages, Grierson was sentenced to 14 years of penal servitude in the American Colonies.
—Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
Now they are imprisoned in El Salvador, according to their families, who have been left in the dark about their fates in a penal system widely condemned for human rights abuses.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Kevin is on the penal version of a time out.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penal
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 May 2025
Convicted in London for conducting clandestine marriages, Grierson was sentenced to 14 years of penal servitude in the American Colonies.
—Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
Now they are imprisoned in El Salvador, according to their families, who have been left in the dark about their fates in a penal system widely condemned for human rights abuses.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Kevin is on the penal version of a time out.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal
punitive
Adjective
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But advocates for immigrant rights say the community arrests – from raids at factories and restaurants to surprise detentions at ICE check-ins – are punitive measures aimed at instilling fear in blue states and cities.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
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In addition to a punitive award of $200 million, the jury said Tesla must also pay $43 million of a total $129 million in compensatory damages for the crash, bringing the total borne by the company to $243 million.—
Bernard Condon,
Fortune,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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