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
Politics punishes that disconnect.
—
John Shallman, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Every major technology shift punishes leaders who mistake size for safety.
—Brian Solis, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Because what most directly punishes American physicians for seeking mental health care sits on a state medical licensure application.
—Frances Mei Hardin, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Imposing an across the board cut punishes agencies that have maintained budgetary discipline while rewarding those that have not, creating an incentive for bloated budgets so future cuts don’t hurt.
—Rose Evans
may 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Some argue that banning conversion therapy punishes ideas instead of actions.
—A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
Power washing your home is one of those projects that looks simple but punishes shortcuts.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Targeting property Iran’s judiciary has begun seizing the property of public figures critical of the country’s rulers, under an anti-espionage law approved during last year’s 12-day war with Israel that punishes media and cultural activities deemed to support Iran’s enemies.
—Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Iran’s judiciary has begun seizing the property of public figures critical of the country's rulers, under an anti-espionage law approved during last year’s 12-day war with Israel that punishes media and cultural activities deemed to support Iran's enemies.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
John Shallman, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Every major technology shift punishes leaders who mistake size for safety.
—Brian Solis, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Because what most directly punishes American physicians for seeking mental health care sits on a state medical licensure application.
—Frances Mei Hardin, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Imposing an across the board cut punishes agencies that have maintained budgetary discipline while rewarding those that have not, creating an incentive for bloated budgets so future cuts don’t hurt.
—Rose Evans
may 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Some argue that banning conversion therapy punishes ideas instead of actions.
—A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
Power washing your home is one of those projects that looks simple but punishes shortcuts.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Targeting property Iran’s judiciary has begun seizing the property of public figures critical of the country’s rulers, under an anti-espionage law approved during last year’s 12-day war with Israel that punishes media and cultural activities deemed to support Iran’s enemies.
—Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Iran’s judiciary has begun seizing the property of public figures critical of the country's rulers, under an anti-espionage law approved during last year’s 12-day war with Israel that punishes media and cultural activities deemed to support Iran's enemies.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishes
Verb
-
Generous leave policies frequently go underused, particularly by men, if workplace culture quietly penalizes those who take advantage of them.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
-
The system rewards deference and penalizes the judgment oversight was designed to protect.—
Tiffany Archer,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Whether the league responds to Booker’s complaints — or fines him for them — the conversation around officiating in this series is far from over.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The state of California also fines taxpayers who didn’t withhold enough from their paychecks, with rates varying by offense.—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Read's suit criticizes police for not searching the home where O'Keefe was found for blood, fingerprints or DNA evidence.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
The suit also criticizes ChatGPT’s propensity to agree with users, arguing that the service’s sycophancy can lead users to develop dangerous psychological attachment to the platform and cause users to pay money to unlock more generous usage quotas.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Levinson’s series has long trafficked as a kind of smutty after-school special, not unlike how Ryan Murphy delves into some of the nastiest gore imaginable and then chastises us for watching.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
-
When a stranger chastises them for not wearing hijabs in public, Pari and Hanna can barely manage to stifle a laugh.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The case now goes to a hearing scheduled for June 1, where his attorneys will be allowed to argue his life be spared before Munyon formally sentences him.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Seoul Central District Court sentences Yoon to five years in prison for resisting arrest and fabricating the martial law proclamation, the first verdict against Yoon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ellie corrects her, based on what Jason told them.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, premiering May 20 on Apple TV, corrects this oversight.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishes. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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