1
as in fines
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in punishments
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantages
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalties
Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to $250,000 per violation.
—
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
In a game where the Stars smashed the Oilers, Hryckowian was pestering Edmonton players all night en route to drawing four penalties.
—R.j. Coyle, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Senegal 's parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Qualified early withdrawals Retirement savers are generally allowed to make early withdrawals from 401(k) accounts and IRAs without tax penalties for several scenarios, a mix of financial emergencies and life events.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
There are multiple ways to file while avoiding penalties, O’Connor says.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
State legislators have passed an array of measures in recent years to try and dramatically increase construction and reduce California’s high housing prices through zoning changes, increasing penalties for communities that don’t approve developments and cutting down on environmental reviews.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
In 2014, the Devils got a first-round pick back as the league reduced the original penalties, which also included a $3 million fine that was cut in half.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
The fourth-seeded Warriors, who were shut out for the first time this season, also hurt themselves with 12 penalties, including 11 in the final two periods.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
In a game where the Stars smashed the Oilers, Hryckowian was pestering Edmonton players all night en route to drawing four penalties.
—R.j. Coyle, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Senegal 's parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Qualified early withdrawals Retirement savers are generally allowed to make early withdrawals from 401(k) accounts and IRAs without tax penalties for several scenarios, a mix of financial emergencies and life events.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
There are multiple ways to file while avoiding penalties, O’Connor says.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
State legislators have passed an array of measures in recent years to try and dramatically increase construction and reduce California’s high housing prices through zoning changes, increasing penalties for communities that don’t approve developments and cutting down on environmental reviews.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
In 2014, the Devils got a first-round pick back as the league reduced the original penalties, which also included a $3 million fine that was cut in half.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
The fourth-seeded Warriors, who were shut out for the first time this season, also hurt themselves with 12 penalties, including 11 in the final two periods.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalties
Noun
-
Three Rivers Waterkeeper wants to see heavier fines if the problem continues.—
Chris Hoffman,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The only ways to avoid the fines are to get an exemption or buy health insurance.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The family challenged these unfair punishments.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The fight While punishments for people who've caused fatal crashes while high have varied wildly from state to state, Resecker's sentence stands out for being unusually tough, especially given his young age, according to a USA TODAY review of similar cases.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Spartans lacked height this season but got all five players on the court to rebound as a group, helping overcome any disadvantages.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The disadvantages, however, may outweigh the weed control.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Oregon, where psilocybin therapy was legalized in 2023, a third of new clinics have already closed owing to high operating expenses and treatment costs.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Some of Reynolds’ expenses as AFL-CIO president were being charged to a credit card belonging to the federation, several witnesses testified, and Reynolds confirmed, during arbitration.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalties. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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