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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
As the clock ticked toward halftime, the Canadians got a little more inventive and put more pressure on the Bafana Bafana penalty area.
—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
There are no idle fees or penalties for charging to 100% on IONNA’s network either.
—
Anthony Karcz,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Had Friday night’s match been level at full time, the trophy would have been decided by a penalty shootout.
—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
In his first match since turning 39 three days earlier, Messi scored on a free kick in the 80th minute after being taken down just outside the penalty area.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
There are no idle fees or penalties for charging to 100% on IONNA’s network either.
—
Anthony Karcz,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Had Friday night’s match been level at full time, the trophy would have been decided by a penalty shootout.
—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
In his first match since turning 39 three days earlier, Messi scored on a free kick in the 80th minute after being taken down just outside the penalty area.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
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If convicted, King could serve anywhere from two to 10 years in prison, and pay up to a $10,000 fine, Judge John Wilson Weeks told the jury pool ahead of the selection process.
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No fines, like what FIFA imposed on six national football associations in response to racist incidents involving supporters during the qualifiers for the World Cup.
Noun
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The couple is set to face punishment for the horrific deaths during sentencing on July 10.
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The city shows how quickly a violent act can be transformed into collective punishment.
Noun
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Many professionals and students have moved abroad in search of opportunities, putting Venezuela at a dire disadvantage with its disaster response.
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Every quarter a brand delays is a quarter of compounding disadvantage.
Noun
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In 2022, a jury awarded Depp more than $10 million in damages, while Heard won one of her counterclaims and was awarded $2 million.
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Most kinds of lawsuit damages are taxable, including employment cases, property loss or damage, defamation, emotional distress, invasion of privacy, credit reporting and consumer cases, and many others.
Noun
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But some have faced pushback, including when two Boise men faced the wrath of their homeowners association for replacing their grass with turf, in part to save water.
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Or, faced with the wrath of the huge Baby Boom generation — who tend to be voters and vociferous — will Congress act in time?
Noun
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Everyone on the trip can collaborate to build the perfect itinerary, easily share flight details, create checklists, and keep track of expenses and who owes what.
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MetLife is poised to lead the industry in margin expansion (20–25 bps annually) by keeping expense growth firmly below revenue gains.
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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