as in punitive
Related Words
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punishing
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
Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 May 2026
Anunoby kept punishing that choice.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
Meanwhile, other indie auteurs, from Alex Garland to David Lowery, have worked with studios like A24 and Neon to repeatedly deliver punishing films that position cerebral complexity as an event worth visiting theaters to witness.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The American people The war has been punishing for Americans and their wallets.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
In other words, Reddit is tracking its users and only punishing only the most engaged ones.
—Jon Christian, Futurism, 30 Apr. 2026
Dying is punishing, but each demise brings a lesson and some progression.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
But many other tariffs remain in effect — including punishing sectoral levies that Trump imposed using another law (Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act).
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 29 Apr. 2026
Those tensions hit a new high when Reuters published an internal Defense Department email last week that proposed punishing Britain for its position on Iran by reviewing America’s position on the Falkland Islands.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
Trump largely succeeded in punishing the Indiana lawmakers who opposed his redistricting plan last year.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 May 2026
Anunoby kept punishing that choice.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
Meanwhile, other indie auteurs, from Alex Garland to David Lowery, have worked with studios like A24 and Neon to repeatedly deliver punishing films that position cerebral complexity as an event worth visiting theaters to witness.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The American people The war has been punishing for Americans and their wallets.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
In other words, Reddit is tracking its users and only punishing only the most engaged ones.
—Jon Christian, Futurism, 30 Apr. 2026
Dying is punishing, but each demise brings a lesson and some progression.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
But many other tariffs remain in effect — including punishing sectoral levies that Trump imposed using another law (Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act).
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 29 Apr. 2026
Those tensions hit a new high when Reuters published an internal Defense Department email last week that proposed punishing Britain for its position on Iran by reviewing America’s position on the Falkland Islands.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishing
Adjective
-
Still employed, but no raise The mayor’s colleagues wisely rejected that punitive step, and commissioners Steve Glassman and John Herbst then joined the mayor in rejecting a 3% merit pay raise for Williams.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
His persistence in teaching, even under Lomax’s punitive schedules, shows his resilience.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Lively demanded a sweeping financial judgment that includes attorneys’ fees, triple damages for alleged harm and punitive damages aimed at penalizing what her attorneys described as an abuse of the legal system.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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The goal, the bill’s supporters said, is to support local governments that are trying to build more housing and need the program’s funds to do it — without penalizing them for failing to hit targets that those governments have criticized since the program was created.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Association has pushed for higher participation during the 82-game onslaught, going as far as to mandate players play 65 games to be eligible for the season-long awards and fining teams for resting players in certain situations.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
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Playing hardball with Lawrence, dragging this deep into the summer, not adjusting his contract and fining him during training camp would be a worrisome way for Harbaugh and the Giants to proceed.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The union accuses the company of engaging in interference and retaliation by disciplining a bargaining committee member for attending bargaining sessions, protected activity under federal law.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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The complaint alleges that district personnel’s concern over asbestos exposure was feigned to justify disciplining Rupert.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bass defended her administration’s handling of homelessness, pointing to declining homelessness counts and the city’s Inside Safe program, while criticizing Raman’s record on police hiring and past votes against some encampment enforcement measures near schools and other sensitive sites.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
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The spike in the number of homicides that Little Rock experienced following the covid-19 pandemic featured heavily in that race, with Landers criticizing Scott’s record on public safety.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 May 2026
Verb
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In the sports betting case, sentencing guidelines call for a punishment of 21 to 27 months in prison.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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According to Law & Crime, sentencing in the case is scheduled for June 30.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a separate homeowner lawsuit in Oklahoma state court, State Farm's lawyers said the company launched an initiative in 2020 to improve the accuracy of its claims-handling practices, including correcting overpayment and underpayment of claims for wind and hail damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
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By correcting the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants (referred to as oxidative stress), the polyphenols may improve arterial function and help ease blood pressure.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Almost immediately after releasing Einstein, Paliwal started receiving emails from professors chastising him for creating a tool seemingly designed to perpetuate academic fraud.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the newest major candidate to enter the race, hewed toward partisan middle ground, chastising leaders in Sacramento for allowing the state budget to balloon without tangible improvements to housing affordability, homelessness and public schools.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishing. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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