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
Under the law, app store operators like Apple and Google and internet service providers would be penalized for supporting TikTok.
—
Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 17 June 2025
The two had cleared the air by this point.
October 27 2024: Mexico City Grand Prix
Infringement: Forcing another driver off track
Penalty points: 2
Norris and Verstappen went head-to-head again in Mexico, a week after their battle in Austin had controversially ended with Norris being penalized.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 June 2025
In voting to deny the measures, AQMD board member Janet Nguyen said the rule would unnecessarily penalize people by raising the cost of household appliances.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Louisiana, which does not share a border with a foreign country, is one of several states attempting to penalize local officials who don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
—Sara Cline, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 17 June 2025
The two had cleared the air by this point.
October 27 2024: Mexico City Grand Prix
Infringement: Forcing another driver off track
Penalty points: 2
Norris and Verstappen went head-to-head again in Mexico, a week after their battle in Austin had controversially ended with Norris being penalized.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 June 2025
In voting to deny the measures, AQMD board member Janet Nguyen said the rule would unnecessarily penalize people by raising the cost of household appliances.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Louisiana, which does not share a border with a foreign country, is one of several states attempting to penalize local officials who don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
—Sara Cline, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalize
punish
Verb
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Road America punishes hesitation and rewards nerve, making every session breathtaking.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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This week, Israel acted—not to punish Iran, but to stop the machinery of destruction that threatens the region and the world.—
Dan Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalize. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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