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
When students participate in policy creation compliance increases significantly because the rules feel collaborative rather than punitive.
—
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
That concern compounds the CFTC’s broad enforcement limitations, which also include a depleted staff and White House mandate to reduce punitive actions.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The Heat have one of each of those slots available, but are expected to enter the season with only 14 under standard contract due to their position against the punitive NBA luxury tax.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025
The court reprimanded Mongolia, but no punitive action followed.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
That concern compounds the CFTC’s broad enforcement limitations, which also include a depleted staff and White House mandate to reduce punitive actions.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The Heat have one of each of those slots available, but are expected to enter the season with only 14 under standard contract due to their position against the punitive NBA luxury tax.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025
The court reprimanded Mongolia, but no punitive action followed.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punitive
Adjective
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To bring in more workers, the colony’s leaders then requested a conversion to penal status, like others that had been established on the continent since the 1780s.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
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The assignment to a penal detachment is arguably a death sentence, however, as Russia's military has routinely used ex-convict forces to conduct near-suicidal missions in the war against Ukraine, leading to high casualty rates.—
Anders Hagstrom,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Depending on the severity of the issue, these may trigger outreach for clarification, a corrective action plan or merchant termination.—
Rochelle Blease,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Your voice can help spur investigations and corrective action.—
Merick T. Lewin,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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