as in to punish
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
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Recent Examples of penalize
In addition to targeting retailers, some locales have sought to penalize the people taking the carts, raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations.
—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
While tariffs selectively penalize specific foreign imports, VAT levies treat all products equally and tend to have a neutral impact on trade.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
First, in the quarterfinal, Czechia took a 3-2 lead with under 8 minutes to play in the third period (on a controversial play which officials admitted should have been penalized for too many men on the ice).
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
The punishment varies by school district, but a majority of public school districts could penalize their students for truancy.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalize
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
While tariffs selectively penalize specific foreign imports, VAT levies treat all products equally and tend to have a neutral impact on trade.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
First, in the quarterfinal, Czechia took a 3-2 lead with under 8 minutes to play in the third period (on a controversial play which officials admitted should have been penalized for too many men on the ice).
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
The punishment varies by school district, but a majority of public school districts could penalize their students for truancy.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalize
punish
Verb
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Commissioner Abe Laydon said during the business meeting Tuesday that the ordinance was not meant to punish retailers but to keep the community safe.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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Roebuck finished with 29 points and was punishing the Wolverines with his strength driving and drawing fouls.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalize. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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