1
as in fine
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit

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2
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating

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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 penalty Can Green Bay avoid Rodgers' longstanding ability to use his cadence to draw penalties on the defense? Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025 New Jersey’s penalty killers, who have been the NHL’s best this season, were having none of it, negating the man advantage without allowing a shot on goal. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025 The Broncos have not had fewer than six penalties in any game. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025 The potential impact on careers has led many pilots to either hide their treatment, risking penalties of up to $250,000, or avoid seeking help altogether, aviation doctors, lawyers and pilots told The New York Times. Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
  • The new fines and allegations are the latest controversy to flare up around Boring Company.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Failure to comply could result in a contempt order, which can lead to fines or potentially force the businesses to shut down.
    Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • As for what the punishment was for Rhoades, the school would not comment any further regarding the incident.
    Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The passage of Proposition 36, a tougher-on-crime law that placed stricter punishments on repeat drug and theft offenders, has given both agencies more opportunities to try to help those in custody suffering from drug addiction.
    Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But without Cooper, Willams and Patton, the Cyclones will be at a severe personnel disadvantage.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Hoffman acknowledged that the developers of data centers have been prone to operate in secret out of their concern of putting clients at a competitive disadvantage compared with rival companies.
    Peter Passi, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Jurors were also tasked with deciding whether Zwerner was negligent and caused any of her own damages; if so, she would be barred from recovering any money from Parker, the judge instructed the jury.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Martinez is seeking over $135,000 in damages for her arrest.
    Real-Time News team, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Grace becomes a doting mother, but the house becomes the subject of her wrath.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Disney is incredibly unlikely to ever admit that politics were a factor in Doctor Who‘s cancellation, but Jimmy Kimmel’s brief suspension was revealing of the company’s desire to minimize MAGA wrath.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Different food hubs help farmers cut expenses by providing a variety of resources, such as warehousing, transportation and delivery, education, marketing, contract management and some even provide supplies to farmers.
    Cristina LaRue, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • However, data provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges shows that cost-of-living increases, not tuition, drove up the expense of studying medicine in recent years.
    Tribune News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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