as in penalized
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 punished
Duran is currently serving a three-match suspension after the club failed in a bid to overturn it but could now be punished further.
—
Ben Burrows, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Too often, a high-risk plan has been miscalculated, and opponents have punished Postecoglou's men.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Previously only the spouse who initiated the divorce was punished.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many incumbents were punished.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Possession of any amount of marijuana in California can only be punished as a misdemeanor under state law.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 30 Dec. 2024
It is supposed to be an apocalyptic-type reckoning when the evil forces are finally punished.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
So about half of the total rapes on campuses now are done by serial rapists, but they are never punished.
—Marianne Schnall, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Or will they be punished for what Gi-hun and his friends tried to do in the Season 2 finale?
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 30 Dec. 2024
Ben Burrows, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Too often, a high-risk plan has been miscalculated, and opponents have punished Postecoglou's men.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Previously only the spouse who initiated the divorce was punished.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many incumbents were punished.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Possession of any amount of marijuana in California can only be punished as a misdemeanor under state law.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 30 Dec. 2024
It is supposed to be an apocalyptic-type reckoning when the evil forces are finally punished.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
So about half of the total rapes on campuses now are done by serial rapists, but they are never punished.
—Marianne Schnall, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Or will they be punished for what Gi-hun and his friends tried to do in the Season 2 finale?
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punished
Verb
-
Also, his team told him over the radio, basically, don’t do anything stupid, Nato is going to be penalized for not using all his Attack Mode.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
12 Apr. 2025
-
But it is considered a civil violation, which can be penalized by deportation.—
Henry Gass,
Christian Science Monitor,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
If each of the 9,000 people convicted spent six months in jail, that would cost counties and/or the state $140 million for the incarceration alone, according to Dave Wells, the local think-tank's research director.—
Ray Stern,
The Arizona Republic,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Earlier this month, Biden also commuted the sentences of 1,500 people who had been placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and also pardoning 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Some of Mangione's supporters have left messages of praise for him, while others have criticized the fundraising efforts.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Bo French, the chairman of the Tarrant County, Texas, GOP, criticized Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, alleging that an emphasis on DEI programs had undermined the military's effectiveness.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
One officer was disciplined for prematurely turning off his body camera, Legon said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Among those disciplined was Grant Miner.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC News,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The network soon corrected that reporting to indicate that the suspect had not come across the border.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
-
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacramento Bee,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punished. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share