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
Ellis was seeking punitive and other damages that included medical expenses for a scratch on her face.
—
Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
No punitive action is to be taken against the animal, as there was no indication that the bear was behaving more aggressively than usual.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
The effort to deal with the emerging humanitarian crisis, officials say, was complicated by a president who felt a deep responsibility to Israel and its security, and the question of whether or not to openly confront Israel or use punitive measures, like withholding military aid.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Through Angela, Fauset crafts an incisive exploration of racial performance, autonomy, and the often punitive structures of desire.
—Glory Edim
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
No punitive action is to be taken against the animal, as there was no indication that the bear was behaving more aggressively than usual.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
The effort to deal with the emerging humanitarian crisis, officials say, was complicated by a president who felt a deep responsibility to Israel and its security, and the question of whether or not to openly confront Israel or use punitive measures, like withholding military aid.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Through Angela, Fauset crafts an incisive exploration of racial performance, autonomy, and the often punitive structures of desire.
—Glory Edim
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
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But the Idaho Department of Correction aims to limit direct participation from correctional officers, agency spokesperson Blake Lopez told the Idaho Statesman.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Sep. 2025
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Republicans on the committee presented three charts that showed spikes in inmate assaults — on both other inmates and correctional staff — and inmate homicides.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Former warden Randall Hepp and eight other workers at Waupun were charged with misconduct in office and abuse of residents of a penal facility related to the deaths of Maier and another prisoner.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Joshua Anderson, who worked at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City until February 2024, was indicted in September on charges of bringing contraband into a penal facility, official misconduct and bribery of a public servant.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The fine is certainly a drop in the bucket for the entertainment giant, but the corrective measure is certainly a win for data privacy.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
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In such a scenario, reminiscent of the ‘70s, if the Fed loosens policy prematurely, inflation could spike, leading to the painful corrective measures seen under Powell’s predecessor Paul Volcker, who hiked rates aggressively and weathered severe, double-dip recessions.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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