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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
Then McNabb, part of a penalty kill that has erased 21 consecutive power plays in the postseason — including all 11 of the Ducks’ opportunities — doubled the lead 11 minutes later.
—
Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
People who were charged penalties during the three-year pandemic emergency have until July 10 to ask the IRS for their money back.
—Julie Z. Weil, Washington Post, 9 May 2026
San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal heard arguments Friday, May 8, from both the city and state regarding the appropriate penalty amount for violating state housing laws, as well as the effective start date for those fines.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
The companies were ordered to pay a total of $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages, with Meta responsible for 70% of the penalties.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
People who were charged penalties during the three-year pandemic emergency have until July 10 to ask the IRS for their money back.
—Julie Z. Weil, Washington Post, 9 May 2026
San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal heard arguments Friday, May 8, from both the city and state regarding the appropriate penalty amount for violating state housing laws, as well as the effective start date for those fines.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
The companies were ordered to pay a total of $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages, with Meta responsible for 70% of the penalties.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
Musk and Tesla each had to pay $20 million in fines, and Musk had to temporarily relinquish his role as chairman of the company’s board.—
Lora Kolodny,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
Timely disclosures, automatic audits, and penalties that actually mean something, not small fines that get brushed off.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Jurors in a Fort Worth courtroom decided on Tanner Horner’s punishment after hearing about a month of testimony and evidence that included audio of Athena Strand’s last moments from inside the delivery van.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Smart also confirmed that Georgia’s NIL collective had begun issuing fines to players as punishment.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The United States’ withdrawal from the WHO, which took effect in January, has put American public health officials at a disadvantage, says David Larsen, PhD, professor and chair of the public health department at Syracuse University.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
-
Instead, perhaps plucky Oklahoma, with all of its financial disadvantages, scheduling struggles and three-star players, could shake up the world.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
An army of lawyers showed up at a hearing Tuesday to iron out issues ahead of an upcoming trial to determine whether the owner and operator of the ship that struck the Key Bridge should be held liable for the full damages caused by the tragedy.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
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Musk is asking the court to unwind OpenAI’s conversion, remove Altman and Brock, and award him up to a hundred and fifty billion dollars (no typo) in damages.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Or risk the wrath of being on the wrong side.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The immediate object of Uthmeier’s wrath is the Rooney Rule, voluntarily adopted more than two decades ago by the NFL to ensure that minority candidates are interviewed for coaching positions.—
Howard L. Simon,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If a drug retails for $100 and a hospital can buy it for $60, then charges the patient or their insurance the full $100 price, the hospital then has $40 to put toward other expenses.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
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Winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with Prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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