as in punishes
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 penalizes
The bill also targets and penalizes repair shops that modify exhaust systems to exceed legal noise levels.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Zillow allegedly monitors agent communications and penalizes those who recommend outside lenders.
—New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
By taxing those inputs, the policy effectively penalizes domestic production.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
But because the ban penalizes corporations, not consumers who break the rules, ban-repeal advocates may have a harder time drawing a coalition of cross-partisan support.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
The picture shows a workforce under strain, marked by anxiety taking earned time off, cultural pressure that penalizes caregiving responsibilities and workplace norms that quietly discourage flexibility rather than protect it.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Taboo Words This game penalizes players who say the wrong words.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
One provision in the law penalizes companies for raising prices too sharply from year to year.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
Another program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, penalizes gasoline with extra costs that are passed onto drivers.
—Austin Gae, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Zillow allegedly monitors agent communications and penalizes those who recommend outside lenders.
—New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
By taxing those inputs, the policy effectively penalizes domestic production.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
But because the ban penalizes corporations, not consumers who break the rules, ban-repeal advocates may have a harder time drawing a coalition of cross-partisan support.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
The picture shows a workforce under strain, marked by anxiety taking earned time off, cultural pressure that penalizes caregiving responsibilities and workplace norms that quietly discourage flexibility rather than protect it.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Taboo Words This game penalizes players who say the wrong words.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
One provision in the law penalizes companies for raising prices too sharply from year to year.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
Another program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, penalizes gasoline with extra costs that are passed onto drivers.
—Austin Gae, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalizes
punishes
Verb
-
Power washing your home is one of those projects that looks simple but punishes shortcuts.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Targeting property Iran’s judiciary has begun seizing the property of public figures critical of the country’s rulers, under an anti-espionage law approved during last year’s 12-day war with Israel that punishes media and cultural activities deemed to support Iran’s enemies.—
Amir-Hussein Radjy,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalizes. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
