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
Joshua Anderson, who worked at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City until February 2024, was indicted in September on charges of bringing contraband into a penal facility, official misconduct and bribery of a public servant.
—
Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Aug. 2025
To bring in more workers, the colony’s leaders then requested a conversion to penal status, like others that had been established on the continent since the 1780s.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
The assignment to a penal detachment is arguably a death sentence, however, as Russia's military has routinely used ex-convict forces to conduct near-suicidal missions in the war against Ukraine, leading to high casualty rates.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Missing fairway’s off the tee is more penal at Bay Hill.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penal
Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Aug. 2025
To bring in more workers, the colony’s leaders then requested a conversion to penal status, like others that had been established on the continent since the 1780s.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
The assignment to a penal detachment is arguably a death sentence, however, as Russia's military has routinely used ex-convict forces to conduct near-suicidal missions in the war against Ukraine, leading to high casualty rates.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Missing fairway’s off the tee is more penal at Bay Hill.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal
Adjective
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His legal team condemned the plan as unconstitutional and punitive, warning that without assurances from Liberia, Abrego Garcia could be sent back to El Salvador.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Professional development for teachers focuses on positive, rather than punitive, behavioral and engagement practices.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The correctional center, located on a military base about 40 miles outside Philadelphia, became Combs' home after his attorneys complained about the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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Then, correctional officers and medical staff arrived.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penal. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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