as in punishes
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
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Recent Examples of penalizes
Generous leave policies frequently go underused, particularly by men, if workplace culture quietly penalizes those who take advantage of them.
—
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 25 May 2026
The system rewards deference and penalizes the judgment oversight was designed to protect.
—Tiffany Archer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
During the two hours of debate in the House on Tuesday, the bill’s supporters declared that income tax is the most destructive tax that penalizes productivity.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
California law penalizes abuse of a child under 14 especially harshly.
—Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
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
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
Taboo Words This game penalizes players who say the wrong words.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 25 May 2026
The system rewards deference and penalizes the judgment oversight was designed to protect.
—Tiffany Archer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
During the two hours of debate in the House on Tuesday, the bill’s supporters declared that income tax is the most destructive tax that penalizes productivity.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
California law penalizes abuse of a child under 14 especially harshly.
—Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
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
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
Taboo Words This game penalizes players who say the wrong words.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalizes
punishes
Verb
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Every major technology shift punishes leaders who mistake size for safety.—
Brian Solis,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Because what most directly punishes American physicians for seeking mental health care sits on a state medical licensure application.—
Frances Mei Hardin,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalizes. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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