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
Trump is known for taking punitive action.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Trump’s tariffs had upended global trade, leading to countries like Canada to recalibrate their economic partnerships in response to the punitive actions.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
The committee recommended punitive measures against Sandy and 16 other named officials.
—Ed Davey The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Among the documents is an email exchange from 2009 in which Mandelson appears to discuss Britain’s plans to impose an additional tax on bankers’ bonuses as a punitive, one-off measure following the crash.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive
David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Trump’s tariffs had upended global trade, leading to countries like Canada to recalibrate their economic partnerships in response to the punitive actions.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
The committee recommended punitive measures against Sandy and 16 other named officials.
—Ed Davey The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Among the documents is an email exchange from 2009 in which Mandelson appears to discuss Britain’s plans to impose an additional tax on bankers’ bonuses as a punitive, one-off measure following the crash.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
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The union representing correctional officers quickly opposed the recommendation in a Monday afternoon statement, arguing that permanent closures present fiscal and operational risks to California.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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The state’s current correctional system has a 40% vacancy rate which equals approximately 2800 vacant positions that has been vacant for the last six months.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Russell is charged with both abuse of residents in penal facilities and misconduct in public office.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
12 Feb. 2026
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In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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If these scenes feel a bit didactic, hammering home everything from the shortage of nurses with SANE training to the dozens of regulations SANEs must follow to protect evidence, their lessons serve as a corrective for many of us who’ve absorbed decades’ worth of rape-as-entertainment.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
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Through regular engagement with OLA and the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, state agencies are working to clarify expectations, improve oversight and implement lasting corrective actions.—
Wes Moore,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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