PUNISH Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'punish' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of punish are castigate , chasten , chastise , correct , and discipline . While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. // punished for stealing

Q: When is 'castigate' a more appropriate choice than 'punish'?

Although the words castigate and punish have much in common, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. // an editorial castigating the entire city council

Q: When might 'chasten' be a better fit than 'punish'?

The meanings of chasten and punish largely overlap; however, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. // chastened by a landslide election defeat

Q: In what contexts can 'chastise' take the place of 'punish'?

In some situations, the words chastise and punish are roughly equivalent. However, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation. // chastised his son for neglecting his studies

Q: When can 'correct' be used instead of 'punish'?

The words correct and punish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. // the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Q: When would 'discipline' be a good substitute for 'punish'?

The words discipline and punish can be used in similar contexts, but discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control. // parents must discipline their children

punish

verb

ˈpə-nish

Definition of punish

as in to penalize

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime the child was punished for breaking dishes on purpose if caught, the thief will be severely punished

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word punish distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of punish are castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, and discipline. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

When is castigate a more appropriate choice than punish?

Although the words castigate and punish have much in common, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When might chasten be a better fit than punish?

The meanings of chasten and punish largely overlap; however, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

In what contexts can chastise take the place of punish?

In some situations, the words chastise and punish are roughly equivalent. However, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When can correct be used instead of punish?

The words correct and punish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When would discipline be a good substitute for punish?

The words discipline and punish can be used in similar contexts, but discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

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 punish It was constructed, in part, to sidestep federal law believed to prohibit hiring targets by rewarding productions that comply rather than punishing those that do not. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026 Algorithms reward cultural relevance while punishing sameness. — Radoslav Nedelchev, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Across the country, Republicans are preparing for a punishing election amid voter backlash to gas prices, tariffs, war with Iran, immigration enforcement and Trump himself. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026 If there’s a determination the Eagles erred, the NFL could punish the team. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punish

Verb

That could come in the form of a salary floor, penalizing clubs who spend less than $150 million, or even raising the luxury tax threshold to $300 million in 2027, with an eye on getting to $360 million four years later.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Supporters say licensing will give California the authority to act on any complaints, and to investigate and penalize companies for unfair or deceptive practices.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of penalize

Verb

The brothers were also fined $50,000 per conviction, with additional court fees — $300,000 for each of the twins, $350,000 for Tal.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Ziaire Williams, who was earlier fined by the NBA for flopping, was called for flopping with four minutes and 36 seconds left in the fourth, leading to a technical foul.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of fine

Verb

Vance has neither criticized his friend nor publicly nudged Carlson to temper what’s been harsh criticism of Israel — and Trump’s cultivation of the Netanyahu government.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
At an October debate, Bass pointed out that Raman, as chair of the city council’s housing and homelessness committee, had repeatedly approved spending on Inside Safe, the very program Raman now criticizes as expensive and insufficiently accountable.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

During the hearing, which ended without a decision, Reyes chastised the government attorneys, who had previously told the court that renovating the links was still in its conceptual stage.

— Rachel Treisman, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
The few encounters with representatives of the law are exasperating — an officer chastises Soulan for being a bad role model for his students — though not necessarily cut and dried.

— Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of chastise

Verb

Former township Clerk Kimberly Grable pleaded guilty to official misconduct and was sentenced to five years in prison.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
After the news broke, it was revealed that Savannah’s fiancé is Jason Galanis, who was sentenced to 189 months in prison in September 2020 for multiple securities fraud schemes.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of sentence

Verb

Those convicted of lying on applications to become American citizens face up to a decade.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
In 2018, Shkreli was convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy, and the Department of Justice sold the record to help pay his reparations.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of convict

Verb

The league can discipline someone when the criticism concerns a specific call or the general quality of officiating.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
After the investigations, Fanatics and Ontide disciplined or dismissed supervisors and managers implicated in harassment.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of discipline

Verb

Ahead of a critical divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, the need to correct the problems sooner rather than later has become dire after a 2-4 start.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Spotting where physical results diverge from computer models allows technical teams to correct their simulation software before committing to final prototype hardware.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of correct

Browse Nearby Words

puniness

punish

punishable

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“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punish. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of punish

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