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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in punishment
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 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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
The higher that yield, the worse that penalty is.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Les Bleus have reached the past two finals, beating Croatia at Russia 2018 and losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout at Qatar 2022.
—Esteban Campanela, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Fellow Mercedes driver George Russell, his closest rival for the championship, finished out of the points after his team failed to properly execute a five-second time penalty — a mistake that resulted in an even harsher sanction and dropped him to the back of the grid.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 7 June 2026
The legislation would also allow renters to terminate a lease without penalties if undisclosed fees are later imposed.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Les Bleus have reached the past two finals, beating Croatia at Russia 2018 and losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout at Qatar 2022.
—Esteban Campanela, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Fellow Mercedes driver George Russell, his closest rival for the championship, finished out of the points after his team failed to properly execute a five-second time penalty — a mistake that resulted in an even harsher sanction and dropped him to the back of the grid.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 7 June 2026
The legislation would also allow renters to terminate a lease without penalties if undisclosed fees are later imposed.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
According to women who worked in the house, Iasmina Pencov racked up thousands of dollars in fines, effectively keeping her indentured.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
Failure to do so results in a fine of up to $32.—
Franklin Briceño,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
There are other interesting twists to the original story that highlight different parts of the themes of crime, punishment, family and responsibility.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Therefore, a second execution would not violate the prohibition on double jeopardy or on the imposition of cruel punishment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Similar to how van Gisbergen debuted on a brand-new NASCAR circuit, thereby negating some of the disadvantages that come with racing in a series for the first time, Magnussen will have the same opportunity at San Diego.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Soon, multiplexes emerged, which put the Westwood Village location at a disadvantage.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The Iskanders sued Grossman and Erickson, and last week a jury found the pair liable in the boys’ deaths, awarding $176 million in damages to parents Nancy and Karim Iskander and younger son Zachary for wrongful death and emotional distress.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Though the lawsuit seeks upwards of $1 million in damages, the woman said, the effort isn’t about money.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Our politicians didn’t have the courage to do that, fearing the wrath of Bears fans.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
-
After a short setup on Eternia, He-Man and his buddies escape the wrath of Skeletor by using the key to visit Earth.—
Jeffrey Ressner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
That's because the cost of jet fuel — which can account for about 30% of airlines' total expenses — has soared during the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
The caller told them a family member had been detained, which was untrue, and demanded money for legal expenses.—
Kassia Bonesteel,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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