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
-
Jackson — still handcuffed to Martin — walked toward the correctional officers by the door.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The correctional officer, Jesus Reyes, was charged with conspiring to sell drugs, possessing drugs for sale and transporting drugs across county lines.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
At the time of Jaxon’s death, the county was nearing the end of an 18-month corrective action plan aimed at improving oversight and safety within the system.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
20 Apr. 2026
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The reframe worked like a set of corrective lenses, sharpening sentimental mush into something with meaning and claws.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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