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
Regulatory regimes in some nations now hold cybersecurity leaders personally accountable for governance failures, with penalties ranging from fines and sanctions to criminal liability.
—
Harpreet Sidhu, Fortune, 13 June 2026
The penalty was upheld by the video assistant referee system, but the broadcast noted that Embelo might have been offside before fielding the cross.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Even worse, the penalty for their 0-16 record in 2017 was a bonus, the first pick in the NFL Draft.
—Maurice O'Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
The penalty for violation is severe, and transactions cannot be kept secret.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Harpreet Sidhu, Fortune, 13 June 2026
The penalty was upheld by the video assistant referee system, but the broadcast noted that Embelo might have been offside before fielding the cross.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Even worse, the penalty for their 0-16 record in 2017 was a bonus, the first pick in the NFL Draft.
—Maurice O'Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
The penalty for violation is severe, and transactions cannot be kept secret.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
In 2017 Providence was a semifinalist for outstanding service, and on Monday the fine-dining Hollywood restaurant won the award for outstanding hospitality.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
Under current law, 65% of money from fireworks fines and seizures must go to the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Fireworks Enforcement and Disposal Fund.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The range of punishment for both offenses is two to 20 years in prison.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 2026
-
In many organizations, formal openness coexists with informal punishment.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Almost 25% of loyalty members are enrolled in more than 3 programs, complexity becomes a direct competitive disadvantage.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Republican Steve Hilton advanced this week to California’s November governor’s race, but the first public look at his matchup with Democrat Xavier Becerra shows the former political commentator starting the general election at a steep disadvantage.—
John Woolfolk,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The 10 Wisconsin electors, Chesebro and Troupis all settled a lawsuit that was brought against them by Democrats seeking damages.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The 52-year-old was diagnosed in 2018 with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive disease that damages and scars lung tissue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Anthropic has advocated for more stringent AI regulations — at times incurring the wrath of the Pentagon and White House — while OpenAI has pushed a more hands-off approach.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Because Cleveland was the visiting club, Steven Kwan drew his wrath.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Noun
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But child care for two children would cost well over $1,000 a month per child — a daunting expense for a family suddenly relying on a single income.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
Xcimer’s engineering targets include limiting laser manufacturing expenses to less than $100 per joule to ensure competitive energy pricing.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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