as in to penalize
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the child was punished for breaking dishes on purpose if caught, the thief will be severely punished
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punish
Voting to shut the government down will punish millions or risk a recession.
—
Andrew Stanton, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Don't punish efficiency by piling on more work or forcing them to sit around pretending to be busy.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
In other words, Southwest — a budget airline that’s been under intense pressure from activist investor Elliott Management — is punishing the folks in the cheap seats for having the audacity to bring clothes on vacation.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also moved to reinstate sanctions on Cuban military companies and expand visa restrictions to punish foreign government officials involved in Cuban medical missions overseas.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punish
Andrew Stanton, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Don't punish efficiency by piling on more work or forcing them to sit around pretending to be busy.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
In other words, Southwest — a budget airline that’s been under intense pressure from activist investor Elliott Management — is punishing the folks in the cheap seats for having the audacity to bring clothes on vacation.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also moved to reinstate sanctions on Cuban military companies and expand visa restrictions to punish foreign government officials involved in Cuban medical missions overseas.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punish
Verb
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Golf fans everywhere were up in arms as the debate raged about whether Clark should be penalized.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
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Bates said in a previous motion hearing to reduce Syed’s sentence he shouldn’t have been released but he also shouldn’t be penalized for the actions of the previous prosecutors.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Crypto audits have been a sore point for the crypto marketplace– with Prager Metis being fined and Armanino having to exit the service area in the aftermath of FTX – but this looks set to change given the buy-in and support from the highest levels of U.S. government.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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The recent wave of criminalizing homelessness stems directly from the U.S. Supreme Court decision Grants Pass v. Johnson, a June ruling that allows municipalities to fine or arrest people experiencing homelessness for sleeping outside, even when no shelter is available.—
Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have sharply criticized the other Supreme Court judges for declining to hear a case called Alabama v. California.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
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Musk has repeatedly criticized Social Security, one of the government's most popular programs, and DOGE staffers have been working inside the agency.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Importantly, Duffy is self-aware, frequently acknowledging his fears or chastising himself for bonehead moves.—
Claude Peck,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
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The two-term U.S. president has been highly critical of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, chastising the Ukrainian leader on social media and in a dramatic Oval Office clash.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Carlson was sentenced by Butte County Superior Judge Corie J. Caraway, who imposed the 11-year maximum — six years for felony arson and five more for use of an accelerant.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
9 Mar. 2025
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Rubén Oseguera, 35, was sentenced to life in a U.S. federal prison for helping his father run one of Mexico's largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations for seven years.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Teixeira, who worked as an information technology specialist, was convicted last year on federal charges, pleading guilty to six counts of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
13 Mar. 2025
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Former officer Brett Hankison was convicted in November 2024 of violating Taylor’s civil rights.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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For the most part though, O’Connor’s direction is disciplined.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Mar. 2025
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He should be disciplined along with the others that followed in protest.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The station was damaged after its launch, forcing NASA to delay launching the crew and to map out and practice procedures for correcting Skylab’s problems.—
Alice George,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Mar. 2025
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This is a company that after several years of underperformance has finally corrected its issues, but which the Street is not yet ready to trust.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punish. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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