as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
Australia was once a penal colony
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Recent Examples of penal
The Mexican Mafia was started in the 1950s at a juvenile jail and grew to an international criminal organization that controls smuggling, drug sales and extortion from inside California’s penal system.
—
ABC News,
23 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
The charges were altered at the plea hearing; Russell had been originally charged with one felony count of abuse of residents of penal facilities and one felony count of misconduct in public office.
—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penal
ABC News,
23 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
The charges were altered at the plea hearing; Russell had been originally charged with one felony count of abuse of residents of penal facilities and one felony count of misconduct in public office.
—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal
Adjective
-
Woods is seeking compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
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The Thunder traded guards Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, respectively, shedding their contracts to try to duck under the NBA’s punitive second-apron threshold.
Adjective
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Modern correctional systems must ensure that participation remains voluntary and that inmates of all faiths—or no faith at all—receive equal treatment.
-
The teen told a Washington County correctional employee who was visiting her school for a career fair in April.
Cite this Entry
“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penal. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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