PUNITIVE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

punitive

adjective

ˈpyü-nə-tiv

Definition of punitive

as in correctional

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment any misbehavior was immediately met with a punitive response the company had to pay a million dollars in punitive damages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of punitive The repeater tax system, which grew even more punitive under the current CBA, has also had an impact. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Opponents, made up of public school advocates and the Missouri State Teachers Association, argued that the accountability systems are punitive and that the reliance on growth creates a moving target that would be hard to maintain. — Jack Harvel july 2, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 Set during the Great Depression, this epic follows four orphans who escape the Lincoln School, a punitive boarding school for Native American children. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 Detention is meant to facilitate removal proceedings but is not meant to be punitive. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for punitive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive

Adjective

For example, the correctional officers union agreed to a new deal that awarded roughly 25,000 workers with a 3% general salary increase last year.

— William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Decades of correctional research have consistently shown that maintaining family connections is one of the strongest predictors of successful reentry and lower rates of recidivism.

— Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of correctional

Adjective

After reviewing the anomaly and SpaceX's corrective actions, the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the company to resume Starship launches.

— Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 14 July 2026
These charts suggest Brazil has established a corrective low, with improving momentum following deeply oversold conditions.

— Katie Stockton, CNBC, 13 July 2026