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
This belies the question of whether those who are looking to deliver punishment are acting in good faith, a concern that became part of the appeals court decision in the El Salvador case and has subsequently been raised in other courtrooms as well.
—
JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
Also in 2018, the Federal Reserve put a growth cap on the bank as punishment for the account scandal.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025
In Africa, men and women could be captured in warfare and enslaved, or taken as part payment for a debt or as punishment for a criminal offense.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Here, beauty becomes literal violence as her mouth is pried open, and nourishment becomes punishment.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punishment
JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
Also in 2018, the Federal Reserve put a growth cap on the bank as punishment for the account scandal.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025
In Africa, men and women could be captured in warfare and enslaved, or taken as part payment for a debt or as punishment for a criminal offense.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Here, beauty becomes literal violence as her mouth is pried open, and nourishment becomes punishment.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishment
Noun
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The penalty gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs at their own 40 — and two plays later, Travis Kelce took the ball 38 yards down the right sideline.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
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The lawsuit also calls for the companies to pay civil penalties to the state in the amount of $10,000 per violation.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Melissa’s extreme threats Jamaica and Haiti are expected to feel the worst of Melissa’s wrath in the coming days, but surrounding countries cannot let their guards down.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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This disease shall hold me back no longer, the world will know my wrath.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishment. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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