as in penalties
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 punishments
Students were told the school would handout punishments as the handbook requires, unless a student is signed out by their parent.
—
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
The detention centers, possibly re-education centers, operated in total secrecy for capricious punishments.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
And what were the punishments handed out?
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The state’s prisons unconstitutionally coerced labor by levying severe punishments — including solitary confinement — against prisoners who refused to work, Denver District Court Judge Sarah Wallace found in the 61-page ruling.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Law enforcement unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements that often include arbitration clauses, allowing disciplined officers to challenge terminations or punishments and potentially secure reinstatement through a neutral third-party review.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
This law, which includes stricter punishments for those who don't comply, repealed a 2001 ordinance on kite flying.
—Betsy Joles, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
But studies show that punishments are ineffective at reducing substance use and can lead to poorer health outcomes for women, newborns, and families.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Still, the prospect of a vote raised the potential for Congress to use one of its most severe punishments against a former president for the first time.
—Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
The detention centers, possibly re-education centers, operated in total secrecy for capricious punishments.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
And what were the punishments handed out?
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The state’s prisons unconstitutionally coerced labor by levying severe punishments — including solitary confinement — against prisoners who refused to work, Denver District Court Judge Sarah Wallace found in the 61-page ruling.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Law enforcement unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements that often include arbitration clauses, allowing disciplined officers to challenge terminations or punishments and potentially secure reinstatement through a neutral third-party review.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
This law, which includes stricter punishments for those who don't comply, repealed a 2001 ordinance on kite flying.
—Betsy Joles, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
But studies show that punishments are ineffective at reducing substance use and can lead to poorer health outcomes for women, newborns, and families.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Still, the prospect of a vote raised the potential for Congress to use one of its most severe punishments against a former president for the first time.
—Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishments
penalties
Noun
-
There needs to be penalties apply to the bill, so schools will comply with the law.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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But Ridley said the bill’s penalties for illicit drug possession or use still would create problems for many providers.—
Robin Opsahl,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punishments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishments. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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