1
as in fine
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
Summer Yates missed her kick in the third round of penalties, giving Washington the chance to secure the win.
—
Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2025
Frank Nazar became the first rookie in franchise history to score on a penalty shot, according to NHL Stats and Information.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
The Panthers’ penalty kill went a perfect 4 for 4 on Thursday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
For now, if officials miss an obvious penalty such as a face mask, replay assist can’t throw a flag.
—Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2025
Frank Nazar became the first rookie in franchise history to score on a penalty shot, according to NHL Stats and Information.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
The Panthers’ penalty kill went a perfect 4 for 4 on Thursday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
For now, if officials miss an obvious penalty such as a face mask, replay assist can’t throw a flag.
—Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
Violating an injunction is a criminal misdemeanor in Florida, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine — a penalty that some advocates contend is not stiff enough.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2025
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If convicted, Worthy, 21, could face a sentence of two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Team members need to feel safe to voice their opinions, ask judgment-free questions, and admit mistakes without fear of punishment and humiliation.—
Martin Zwilling,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
-
When failure is punished, people stop trying for fear of punishment, and progress slows to a crawl.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This strategy works well for generic roles but puts startups and small businesses at a disadvantage.—
Sweta Khandelwal,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The team played the entire second half at a man disadvantage after a Patrick Dorgu red card.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
There has been growing concern within several news outlets about drawing the wrath of the Trump administration.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
-
The result of such whiplash: People who have experienced the various stages of a Trump relationship often remain tied to him, yet also fearful of his wrath, concluding that praising Trump—or at least staying silent about his shortcomings—is the best survival strategy.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In all three countries, restaurants may soon be paying more for ingredients and passing along the expense.—
Christopher Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
-
That move has raised concerns that the lower prices will come at the expense of product quality, the person said.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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