as in penalizes
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 punishes
Carrie is in love with Richard, defends him, and even punishes Laura by starving her for multiple days.
—
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Obsess Over Concept-to-Execution Speed – The market punishes slow thinkers.
—Erik Huberman, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Here’s how the criminal justice process punishes even innocent people.
—The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
This regressive move punishes our own workers and residents to try to plug budget holes.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … WOKE OVERREACH – Parents outraged as school punishes boys over trans locker room confrontation.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Growth exposes every weakness, magnifies every misalignment, and punishes a lack of discipline.
—Andrea Hill, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Using executive orders and fiat, the president punishes states, businesses, and universities for these policies.
—William Becker, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Obsess Over Concept-to-Execution Speed – The market punishes slow thinkers.
—Erik Huberman, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Here’s how the criminal justice process punishes even innocent people.
—The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
This regressive move punishes our own workers and residents to try to plug budget holes.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … WOKE OVERREACH – Parents outraged as school punishes boys over trans locker room confrontation.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Growth exposes every weakness, magnifies every misalignment, and punishes a lack of discipline.
—Andrea Hill, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Using executive orders and fiat, the president punishes states, businesses, and universities for these policies.
—William Becker, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishes
Verb
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Many American fans, including influencer Paige Spiranac, called for reform, arguing the regulation penalizes healthy athletes.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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Thanks to the new ‘Hi-Five’ rule, which penalizes defenders for swiping at hands following through, and re-emphasizes contact to shooters’ legs, Curry shot nine free throws in the first half, all makes, and ended up with 13 attempts from the foul line overall.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jenkins did not respond to an interview request, but the extent of those concerns appears to have been a memo authored by an Oakland resident who frequently criticizes the commission at public forums.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
-
To do so, the country is supporting mass infrastructure projects and the construction of stadiums, priorities that the movement heavily criticizes.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As Dexter questions why Batista’s death hurts so much, Brian chastises his brother for listening to Harry too much.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
5 Sep. 2025
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Red Jacob chastises Colum for not healing quickly enough.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Hers is prose in which sentences judder and disintegrate and run over each other.—
Book Marks
August 28,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Since 2013, Romana has specialized in advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry that corrects or restores or enhances smiles.—
Shawn Price,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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Which is why receiving feedback, especially the kind that calls us out or corrects us, can be so difficult.—
Susanne Biro,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishes. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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