as in penalty
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
he is serving five years in prison as punishment for aggravated assault
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Recent Examples of punishment
Losing titles and having to move from a mansion to another smaller house where everything is paid for you isn’t that big of a punishment.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2025
Leaving your place shouldn’t be a punishment for not repaying the loan.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Her act is both punishment and release.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
There’s no punishment for Betty Jo, but also no hope.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punishment
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2025
Leaving your place shouldn’t be a punishment for not repaying the loan.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Her act is both punishment and release.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
There’s no punishment for Betty Jo, but also no hope.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishment
Noun
-
The team also committed three penalties in the third period, and Sullivan said the coaching staff would have preferred it to have been less eventful.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
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However, an additional sanction could subject her to probation, suspension, termination or a host of possible penalties related to promotions, tenure or salary, according to IU code.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Grace becomes a doting mother, but the house becomes the subject of her wrath.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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Disney is incredibly unlikely to ever admit that politics were a factor in Doctor Who‘s cancellation, but Jimmy Kimmel’s brief suspension was revealing of the company’s desire to minimize MAGA wrath.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishment. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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