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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punitive
As a result, some districts are taking a punitive approach to chronic absenteeism.
—
Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have reignited with tit-for-tat punitive measures.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Some states, including Michigan, impose purely punitive sanctions such as fines or jail time.
—Caitlin Cavanagh, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
But to do so now would be punitive and feel good to many Dolfans, that’s all.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have reignited with tit-for-tat punitive measures.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Some states, including Michigan, impose purely punitive sanctions such as fines or jail time.
—Caitlin Cavanagh, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
But to do so now would be punitive and feel good to many Dolfans, that’s all.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
-
The correctional center, located on a military base about 40 miles outside Philadelphia, became Combs' home after his attorneys complained about the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Then, correctional officers and medical staff arrived.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Hollfelder had been charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities, a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 1½ years in prison and two years on extended supevision.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Employers can regain their PSLF status after completing a corrective action plan or waiting a decade.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Each year, the department inspects every cruise ship under its purview and provides a score and corrective report to the cruise line.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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