Synonyms of punishing

punishing 1 of 2

adjective

as in punitive

Related Words

• punitive
• advisory
• counseling
• moralistic
• didactic
• admonishing
• moralizing
• warning
• admonitory
• monitory
• cautionary
• exemplary
• premonitory
• cautioning

punishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of punish

as in penalizing

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

• penalizing
• fining
• disciplining
• criticizing
• sentencing
• correcting
• chastising
• convicting
• assessing
• castigating
• imposing
• chastening
• condemning
• charging
• levying
• reprimanding
• denouncing
• mulcting
• docking
• rebuking
• damning
• wreaking
• reproving
• keelhauling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sparing
• excusing
• pardoning
• forfeiting
• releasing
• commuting
• getting off
• ransoming
• vindicating
• exonerating
• acquitting
• absolving
• exculpating
• reprieving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of punishing

Adjective

Pair him with Sharpe, and the Nets could build one of the league’s most punishing center rotations on the glass. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026

Instead, left under the most punishing economic sanctions Cubans have known in their lives, the island may slowly wither and die. — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026

First introduced in 1944, the multi-purpose off-roader with portal axles has been used as the basis for military, emergency, and commercial vehicles in some of the most punishing environments around the world. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025

But the new government, led by former rebels who toppled Bashar al-Assad, is urging US lawmakers to repeal the most punishing sanctions isolating Syria from the world economy. — Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Verb

As evidence of this theme across the whole tournament, the same rotations can be found in the second group game, against Saudi Arabia — punishing the opposition in wide areas with opposite movements to drag players out of position. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 July 2026

The Greek myths are rife with petty and meddlesome deities squabbling, playing favorites, punishing harshly, and otherwise wreaking havoc on the lives of mortal men. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Today, these dire warnings have become a stark reality, as Europe and the US grapple with punishing heatwaves and uncontrollable wildfires. — Adam Frank, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

A week of punishing downpours dumped more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) in some areas. — Jesse Bedayn, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

By closing off the strait again, Iran is subjecting itself to the reimposition of punishing sanctions and a tightening economic noose. — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026

England's grueling 2-1 extra-time quarterfinal win over Norway came in punishing Miami heat on Saturday. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026

Also, the dynamics of race and sexuality underneath who Northwestern and the US House of Representatives committee are punishing are not just about me. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

The blaze comes amid Western Europe’s third punishing heat wave this summer, fueling deadly fires in Spain and France and underscoring scientists’ findings that the continent is warming twice as fast as the global average. — Sergio Rodrigo, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026