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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of punishing
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
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026
Targeted antitrust enforcement that restores competition without punishing scale for its own sake can lower prices without new bureaucracy.
—J.d. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
The show is built around the spectacle of punishing the excessively vain.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
But the agency's conservative critics have long accused the CFPB of overreaching, punishing small lenders and harming businesses.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Misogyny, Manne argues, is often less about hating women outright than about policing and punishing their behavior.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
Minneapolis and Minnesota accuse the Republican administration of violating free speech rights by punishing a progressive state that favors Democrats and welcomes immigrants.
—Scott Bauer, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
If punishing tariffs are supposed to protect Americans, why would the administration agree to lower them at all?
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Anyone who’s been judged, rejected, or ghosted for doing so knows how punishing that vulnerability can be.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
The sweet spot is intuitive discipline, building habits that feel purposeful rather than punishing.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026
Targeted antitrust enforcement that restores competition without punishing scale for its own sake can lower prices without new bureaucracy.
—J.d. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
The show is built around the spectacle of punishing the excessively vain.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
But the agency's conservative critics have long accused the CFPB of overreaching, punishing small lenders and harming businesses.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Misogyny, Manne argues, is often less about hating women outright than about policing and punishing their behavior.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
Minneapolis and Minnesota accuse the Republican administration of violating free speech rights by punishing a progressive state that favors Democrats and welcomes immigrants.
—Scott Bauer, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
If punishing tariffs are supposed to protect Americans, why would the administration agree to lower them at all?
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Anyone who’s been judged, rejected, or ghosted for doing so knows how punishing that vulnerability can be.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishing
Adjective
-
So over the past year and a bit, China had put very punitive tariffs on Canadian agricultural products and fish and seafood, shutting Canadians out from one of their primary markets, if not for some of them, their primary market.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
But the pressure isn’t punitive.—
Shaw Walters,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The internet is already penalizing uncurated AI slop.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The suit claims that about 100 schools are left without these additional resources, penalizing them with larger class sizes and fewer opportunities to meet with teachers, among other drawbacks.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Apple Music introduced fraud penalties back in 2022, where along with demonetizing the illegitimate streams themselves, the company employed a sliding scale of fining fraudsters a fee calculated on what would’ve been royalties.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In response to the San Bruno tragedy, the California Public Utilities Commission, which is investigating the latest explosion, began fining gas companies and utilities for violating state and federal gas safety rules.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ultimately, Lawson concluded that disciplining Polak over the three posts would be constitutionally allowed under the First Amendment, though such discipline did not appear to follow the university’s own guidelines and its collective bargaining agreement.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
-
No topic appeared off limits for the couple, as Kevin and Ruby posted videos on everything from homeschooling to potty training to their fertility struggles — as well as their approach to disciplining their six children, according to the podcast The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Justice Department also launched a probe into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their public statements criticizing the presence of ICE in the state.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jurors are faced with either sentencing Harrel Braddy, now 76, to life imprisonment or to die by lethal injection as Braddy’s resentencing trial wrapped up Thursday with closing arguments.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
-
While judges are prohibited from commenting on cases in Texas, Juvenile Division Chief at the Harris County Public Defender's Office Steven Halpert reportedly weighed in on the sensitivity surrounding sentencing juvenile offenders.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As with all imbalances, by correcting the temperatures, winds, and waters that had thrown them into dyscrasia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Tafoya had to resubmit her campaign filing, correcting it to Plymouth, Minnesota.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Equally concerning to democracy defenders is its rhetoric chastising European democracies and apparent willingness to elevate political parties in Europe that reject human rights.—
Shelley Inglis,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Just the same, this was some unsavory stuff from a team that began the season in Brazil with Reid chastising his players for their effort in an opening loss to the Chargers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
