PENAL Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

penal

adjective

ˈpē-nᵊl

Definition of penal next

as in punitive

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

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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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal

Adjective

And its enthusiasm for punitive governance, especially targeting those deemed ideologically unacceptable, raises questions about its ability to support de-radicalization.

— Javier Corrales, Time, 2 Dec. 2025
This shouldn’t be done in a punitive way, however, and the dog should be rewarded for positive behavior throughout.

— Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025