punishment
noun
pun·ish·ment
ˈpə-nish-mənt 
1
: the act of punishing
2
a
: suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution
b
: a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
Synonyms
Examples of punishment in a Sentence
I took away my daughter's car keys as a punishment for her bad behavior.
The punishments that the government has inflicted on the protesters are severe and unjust.
The punishment for murder is life imprisonment.
Some religions teach that wicked people will suffer eternal punishment in hell after they die.
Recent Examples on the Web
All of these moves have offered a window into how Mr. Martin might deal with Mr. Trump’s suggestions that his adversaries should face some sort of punishment.
—
Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
In what President Donald Trump says is a move to protect the rule of law and free speech advocates see as an attack on it, the White House is promising tougher punishments for vandalizing public monuments, statues and religious displays.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Rather than stop, more people began to dance, fearing that the dance was a punishment from St. Vitus, and that joining the dance epidemic was the only way to be free of sin.
—Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Less than half of millennial and Gen Z adults support the punishment.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for punishment 
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Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
In what President Donald Trump says is a move to protect the rule of law and free speech advocates see as an attack on it, the White House is promising tougher punishments for vandalizing public monuments, statues and religious displays.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Rather than stop, more people began to dance, fearing that the dance was a punishment from St. Vitus, and that joining the dance epidemic was the only way to be free of sin.
—Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Less than half of millennial and Gen Z adults support the punishment.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for punishment
Dictionary Entries Near punishment
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punishment. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punishment
noun
pun·ish·ment
ˈpən-ish-mənt
1
a
: the act of punishing
b
: the state or fact of being punished
persons undergoing punishment
2
: the penalty for a fault or crime
the punishment for robbery
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
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