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
As for those who preferred the old style of kickoff, a few players were critical of how punitive touchbacks are against the kicking team.
—
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The government was financed by tariffs that were kind of random and crazy and punitive.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
While Maryland agreed to pause its pursuit of punitive action against prediction markets while legal proceedings fully play out, Nevada did not provide the same leeway.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
So over the past year and a bit, China had put very punitive tariffs on Canadian agricultural products and fish and seafood, shutting Canadians out from one of their primary markets, if not for some of them, their primary market.
—CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The government was financed by tariffs that were kind of random and crazy and punitive.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
While Maryland agreed to pause its pursuit of punitive action against prediction markets while legal proceedings fully play out, Nevada did not provide the same leeway.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
So over the past year and a bit, China had put very punitive tariffs on Canadian agricultural products and fish and seafood, shutting Canadians out from one of their primary markets, if not for some of them, their primary market.
—CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
-
The senior psychiatrist also helps run specialized treatment programs, takes part in hiring new psychiatrists, advises correctional staff on mental health issues and handles other tasks when needed.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Todd Randall Wilcox, a correctional health-care physician and the former president of the American College of Correctional Physicians, reviewed the medical records associated with Roque Campos’s hospital visits, as part of expert testimony for the class-action suit.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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
-
Over time, using a corrective exercise routine every morning also can help address underlying drivers of chronic back pain and posture problems.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The suit seeks to bar the Bureau and the Commerce Department from continuing the practice for the 2030 Census and to require corrective action for the 2020 and 2021 apportionment counts.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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