penal

adjective

ˈpē-nᵊl How to pronounce penal (audio)
Definition of penalnext
as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment Australia was once a penal colony

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penal She had originally been charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities, a felony. — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026 However, an appellate court panel of judges ruled that the judge and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office inappropriately cited a penal law to seize the drawing. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 The museum, spanning a former cell block wing, is a deeply informative and well curated journey through the evolution of the nation’s penal system. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 The charges included seven counts of falsifying a record and one felony count of abuse of a resident of a penal facility. — Nichole Manna, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for penal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal
  1. punitive
  2. correctional
Adjective
  • In recent years, affirmative litigation has become an essential tool for defending against punitive federal policy and recovering public funds, Pines and others said.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Trump has slapped tariffs on the Brazilian economy and punitive sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, the chief justice most heavily involved in the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of 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

Browse Nearby Words

pen
penal
penalize
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Cite this Entry

“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penal. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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