punished; punishing; punishes
1
a
: to impose a penalty on for a fault, offense, or violation
b
: to inflict a penalty for the commission of (an offense) in retribution or retaliation
2
a
: to deal with roughly or harshly
b
: to inflict injury on : hurt
: to inflict punishment
Examples of punish in a Sentence
I think that murderers should be punished by life imprisonment.
She was punished for lying.
His parents punished him by taking away his allowance.
How should I punish my child's misbehavior?
State law punishes fraud with fines.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, with rates above 5% on home equity products and above 20% on revolving credit card balances, the carrying cost of that debt has become punishing.
—
Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The guilty will be punished in proportion to their offences by the Aunts here on earth and then go on to burn in hell for the rest of eternity, God willing.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 May 2026
The new releases of political prisoners are also happening on the eve of a judicial reform that would renew Venezuela’s Supreme Court and strengthen the authorities’ efforts to punish corruption among prosecutors and judges.
—Gustavo Ocando Alex, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
The sponsors are vindictively threatening to punish the people of Colorado for daring to vote and act democratically.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for punish
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Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The guilty will be punished in proportion to their offences by the Aunts here on earth and then go on to burn in hell for the rest of eternity, God willing.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 May 2026
The new releases of political prisoners are also happening on the eve of a judicial reform that would renew Venezuela’s Supreme Court and strengthen the authorities’ efforts to punish corruption among prosecutors and judges.
—Gustavo Ocando Alex, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
The sponsors are vindictively threatening to punish the people of Colorado for daring to vote and act democratically.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for punish
Cite this Entry
“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punish. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
punish
transitive verb
pun·ish
ˈpə-nish 
1
: to impose a penalty on for a fault, offense, or violation
2
: to inflict a penalty for the commission of (an offense) in retribution or retaliation or as a deterrent
: to inflict punishment
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