as in punished
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
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Recent Examples of penalized
Creators raised concerns According to YouTube, the change directly addresses complaints from creators who said the platform penalized storytelling formats that rely on realism or social themes.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Jan. 2026
Panahi has consistently taken the risk and he’s been penalized and imprisoned many times for his work, spending years in prison; but this film is on another level (he was even sentenced in absentia for it).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
For a long, long time, Hall of Fame voters have penalized players like that if injuries blew up their beautiful roads to the plaque gallery.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
In this instance, Mazzulla may have reduced his risk of being penalized.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Rehabs providing highly effective treatment aren’t being rewarded, and health insurance companies choosing the cheapest providers or kicking patients out of treatment early aren’t being penalized.
—Joanna Conti, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Booker was penalized for roughing the passer on the hit that sent Love into concussion protocol.
—Steve Megargee, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Four Sharks and three Lightning players were penalized for a fight that involved every player on the ice except the goaltenders.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2026
Jefferson was penalized and ejected.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Dec. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Jan. 2026
Panahi has consistently taken the risk and he’s been penalized and imprisoned many times for his work, spending years in prison; but this film is on another level (he was even sentenced in absentia for it).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
For a long, long time, Hall of Fame voters have penalized players like that if injuries blew up their beautiful roads to the plaque gallery.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
In this instance, Mazzulla may have reduced his risk of being penalized.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Rehabs providing highly effective treatment aren’t being rewarded, and health insurance companies choosing the cheapest providers or kicking patients out of treatment early aren’t being penalized.
—Joanna Conti, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Booker was penalized for roughing the passer on the hit that sent Love into concussion protocol.
—Steve Megargee, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Four Sharks and three Lightning players were penalized for a fight that involved every player on the ice except the goaltenders.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2026
Jefferson was penalized and ejected.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalized
punished
Verb
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Indiana physically punished Alabama in the quarterfinal.—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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People who have been punished but treated humanely have a far greater chance of successfully reintegrating into society, an important consideration for all of us.—
Mary Buser,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalized. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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