PENAL Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

penal

adjective

ˈpē-nᵊl

Definition of penal

as in punitive

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment Australia was once a penal colony

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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 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 In the new South, one scrabbling to industrialize, business owners could now hire unpaid labor through the penal system. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026 By then, his tour of the federal penal system had taken him to the medium security penitentiary in Coleman, Florida. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 13 Apr. 2026 Within the Moreton Bay area, a penal settlement for colonial recidivists was founded at Brisbane, followed by other penal establishments at Ipswich and on Stradbroke Island. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for penal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal

Adjective

Trump’s treatment of South Korea is not unique, having taken punitive measures against a slew of allies who refused to back his invasion of Iran.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026
The bill, which would ban homeless encampments statewide, could add more punitive measures to enforcement against unsheltered homelessness in Charlotte.

— Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of punitive

Adjective

The lawsuit against the EEOC was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, and two women who are correctional officers at Louisiana’s Federal Correctional Complex at Pollock.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Blackwell, who was received from Los Angeles County in 2010, was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, correctional officials said.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of correctional

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pen

penal

penalize

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“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of penal

adjective

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