as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
forced to listen to a penalizing lecture on the consequences of lying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in punishing
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalizing
Sarah Davis, The Hill, 5 Mar. 2026
Also, strong steps against the Russian shadow fleet that surreptitiously transports energy products, designation of Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and other economic measures strongly penalizing Russia and aiding Ukraine.
—U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
The law prevents health insurers and providers from penalizing patients who inadvertently receive out-of-network care.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
The agency has rejected all as unfairly penalizing Arizona while demanding much less from upstream states in particular.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 25 Feb. 2026
More than 80 percent of Longchamp’s suppliers are rated via EcoVadis, and procurement teams work with lower-performing partners to drive improvements, rather than simply penalizing them.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
Several policy priorities followed from Miller’s long-standing fixations, such as denying immigrants work authorization while their legal cases were pending and penalizing applicants who used public benefits.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
And while last year’s budget bill tightened eligibility checks, the goal should’ve been stopping bad behavior, not penalizing consumers.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
The internet is already penalizing uncurated AI slop.
—Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The new bill prevents states and courts from penalizing pesticide manufacturers that do not include health warning labels beyond those required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 5 Mar. 2026
Also, strong steps against the Russian shadow fleet that surreptitiously transports energy products, designation of Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and other economic measures strongly penalizing Russia and aiding Ukraine.
—U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
The law prevents health insurers and providers from penalizing patients who inadvertently receive out-of-network care.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
The agency has rejected all as unfairly penalizing Arizona while demanding much less from upstream states in particular.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 25 Feb. 2026
More than 80 percent of Longchamp’s suppliers are rated via EcoVadis, and procurement teams work with lower-performing partners to drive improvements, rather than simply penalizing them.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
Several policy priorities followed from Miller’s long-standing fixations, such as denying immigrants work authorization while their legal cases were pending and penalizing applicants who used public benefits.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
And while last year’s budget bill tightened eligibility checks, the goal should’ve been stopping bad behavior, not penalizing consumers.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
The internet is already penalizing uncurated AI slop.
—Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalizing
Adjective
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The answer is not to abandon reform or return to the purely punitive policies of past decades.—
Keith Wortz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
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There’s more work to do on SSI’s punitive asset cap.—
Michael Frerichs,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At an average of over 21%, today's credit card rates are punishing, meaning that the repayment process continually gets more difficult for borrowers as the interest compounds.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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The Avalanche Gulch route is 11 miles round-trip, with 7,300 punishing feet of vertical gain.—
Gregory Thomas,
San Francisco Chronicle,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalizing. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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