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
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Recent Examples of punitive
Although detention is meant to be non-punitive, advocates and lawyers have criticized the conditions at these facilities, such as a lack of healthcare, exposure to extreme heat, and unsanitary conditions.
—
Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in this Promotion and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
James Stirling, setting out on the punitive expedition with about 25 police, soldiers, and other settlers.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Markets, allies, and lawmakers will be watching closely for signs that the conflict is shifting from punitive strikes toward longer‑term control of strategic infrastructure.
—Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in this Promotion and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
James Stirling, setting out on the punitive expedition with about 25 police, soldiers, and other settlers.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Markets, allies, and lawmakers will be watching closely for signs that the conflict is shifting from punitive strikes toward longer‑term control of strategic infrastructure.
—Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
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And a study by the New York City Department of Investigation showed test error rates from 79% to 91% in some correctional settings.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
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The opportunities extend beyond associate degrees, with some universities offering full bachelor's programs tailored to specific correctional populations.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The colony’s penal function brought in large sums from the British treasury.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
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Centuries of penal laws had left Catholics as impoverished tenant farmers, while Protestants – wealthier and less reliant on the crop – had greater resources to survive.—
Paula Kane,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Teachers have a difficult job today, with parents not having a degree in education telling teachers how to do their jobs, and complaining when the parents don’t like the results when corrective action is taken.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
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Probation submitted a corrective action plan to the BSCC in March that pledges to expand oversight.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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