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
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Recent Examples of punished
Microsoft, on the other hand, was punished for its spending plans and slowdown in cloud growth.
—
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Should Belichick have been punished?
—Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Arsenal were brutally punished in the second half too — two superb strikes from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha gave United the win.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
What’s the point of punishment if someone doesn’t understand what they’re being punished for?
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2026
Can students in Ohio be punished for protesting?
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2026
The restraining order, however, specifically says that neither the player nor program can be punished by the NCAA for Bediako’s participation.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Kelly filed a lawsuit earlier this month in a district court to try to stop Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s efforts to demote his rank in retirement, insisting the inquiry unlawfully punished him for his speech and violated his due process.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
This approach uncovers systemic issues and shows your team that honesty won't be punished.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Should Belichick have been punished?
—Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Arsenal were brutally punished in the second half too — two superb strikes from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha gave United the win.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
What’s the point of punishment if someone doesn’t understand what they’re being punished for?
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2026
Can students in Ohio be punished for protesting?
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2026
The restraining order, however, specifically says that neither the player nor program can be punished by the NCAA for Bediako’s participation.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Kelly filed a lawsuit earlier this month in a district court to try to stop Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s efforts to demote his rank in retirement, insisting the inquiry unlawfully punished him for his speech and violated his due process.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
This approach uncovers systemic issues and shows your team that honesty won't be punished.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punished
Verb
-
In such environments, certain styles are amplified while others are quietly penalized.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Hill didn’t directly answer questions about whether Boise would still be penalized under the revisions.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Whether or not the NFL regularly honors those words, the 76-year-old Tisch should be fined, suspended and prohibited from participating in any team or league activities for some period of time.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Aldo Martínez, 39, a Mexico City shop owner, was fined $38,000 for selling the devices, fought the ruling and eventually did not have to pay.—
María Verza,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Shelton was sentenced to almost five years in prison.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Yoon was impeached and removed from office, and special investigations soon began into him, his wife, and his deputies, including his prime minister, who was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In 1920, Terence MacSwiney, the lord mayor of Cork, was convicted of sedition and then died in Brixton Prison after seventy-four days on hunger strike.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The recipients are vetted and are not eligible if they’ve been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors in the US.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Chinese state media criticized the H20 for lacking technological prowess and being environmentally unfriendly, with regulators eventually halting imports over security concerns.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Liston questioned why Pretti was carrying a handgun — which appeared to be removed from its holster by an officer just before the shooting — and Baisley criticized Minneapolis’ local leadership and immigrants without proper legal status.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the Patriots’ disciplined, tough style of play is a reflection of the coach.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Supply growth remains disciplined.—
Bryce Erickson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In an interview with the New York Post published on Sunday, the president chastised the Super Bowl performers as poor choices that would be divisive.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Those criticisms were echoed in August by Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who chastised Oklahoma Insurance Department Commissioner Glen Mulready for failing to take action.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoma Watch,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Our country, the historical beacon of freedom and democracy, is past a tipping point which, if not corrected now, may never be.—
Larry Pino,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
-
This story has been corrected to note the correct year in which the Mets played the Diamondbacks on Easter.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punished. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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