as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
forced to listen to a penalizing lecture on the consequences of lying
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2025
Instead, the discussion has been moving toward new tax incentives — Newsom’s new bill doubling California’s annual tax credit program to $750 million a year, calls for a federal tax incentive for film and TV — and away from the idea of penalizing productions that shoot outside the country.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
But should the administration find a way—through tariffs or another mechanism—of penalizing productions that take place overseas, companies like Disney that have recently unveiled plans to invest in foreign productions could be significantly impacted.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
The sanctions, which will go into effect unless there’s a last-minute deal Friday, will include freezing Iranian assets abroad, halting arms deals with Tehran and penalizing any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Flexibility alone isn’t enough—promotion criteria must avoid penalizing remote or hybrid workers and career pathways should accommodate different life and caregiving stages without stalling advancement.
—Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Ohio lawmakers debated everything from home grow restrictions to penalizing passengers who smoke in the car.
—Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 17 Aug. 2025
The fairway bunkers are quite penalizing with the big lips.
—Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2025
Governments typically only make money when penalizing those who break the rules.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
By addressing one of the most persistent inefficiencies in combination vehicles, Tesla could make towing more energy-efficient and less aerodynamically penalizing, reinforcing the Cybertruck’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of both style and functionality, reports Electrek.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2025
Instead, the discussion has been moving toward new tax incentives — Newsom’s new bill doubling California’s annual tax credit program to $750 million a year, calls for a federal tax incentive for film and TV — and away from the idea of penalizing productions that shoot outside the country.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
But should the administration find a way—through tariffs or another mechanism—of penalizing productions that take place overseas, companies like Disney that have recently unveiled plans to invest in foreign productions could be significantly impacted.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
The sanctions, which will go into effect unless there’s a last-minute deal Friday, will include freezing Iranian assets abroad, halting arms deals with Tehran and penalizing any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Flexibility alone isn’t enough—promotion criteria must avoid penalizing remote or hybrid workers and career pathways should accommodate different life and caregiving stages without stalling advancement.
—Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Ohio lawmakers debated everything from home grow restrictions to penalizing passengers who smoke in the car.
—Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 17 Aug. 2025
The fairway bunkers are quite penalizing with the big lips.
—Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2025
Governments typically only make money when penalizing those who break the rules.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalizing
Adjective
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But a federal judge threw out the lawsuit in March 2024, excoriating the platform’s case as plainly punitive rather than about protecting the platform’s security and legal rights.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Then, just before voting to pass the bill last month, the House adopted an amendment that raised the fines to $25,000 for an initial violation and $125,000 for subsequent offenses, making the measure the most financially punitive bathroom restriction in the country, according to The Texas Tribune.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Daniel Day-Lewis is legendary for going to punishing lengths to deliver authentic performances.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
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Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.—
Anne Reeve,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalizing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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