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
Then Miami was penalized for two delay-of-game calls, committing two false starts, gave up three sacks, overthrowing Tyreek Hill deep, and Tagovailoa had a fourth-down pass picked off.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Campbell also was flagged for one false start, while left guard Jared Wilson was penalized for holding.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
In this case, Qantas’ move is designed to show global travelers that the company’s board (and, by proxy, its shareholders) takes data security seriously enough to penalize its executives for the company’s July data breach.
—Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
But some counties are exploring ways to penalize outdoors enthusiasts who require rescue if their behavior is deemed negligent or irresponsible.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Campbell also was flagged for one false start, while left guard Jared Wilson was penalized for holding.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
In this case, Qantas’ move is designed to show global travelers that the company’s board (and, by proxy, its shareholders) takes data security seriously enough to penalize its executives for the company’s July data breach.
—Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
But some counties are exploring ways to penalize outdoors enthusiasts who require rescue if their behavior is deemed negligent or irresponsible.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalize
punish
Verb
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The city of Grants Pass, Oregon, had punished people using camping paraphernalia like blankets or pillows while sleeping outside.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Sep. 2025
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But even this nod to forgiveness is relatively punishing, since the health refill freezes your character in a defenseless pose for a few seconds.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalize. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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