punitive damages

plural noun

: damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong

Examples of punitive damages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Lipa is seeking a permanent injunction to block Samsung from further use of her image and likeness, as well as damages of no less than $15 million, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and profits allegedly connected to the campaign. —

Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026 The suit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $25,000, punitive damages sufficient to deter future similar conduct and attorney’s fees. —

Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages against Otaola, Velazquez, Santana, and OTACA Media Productions. —

Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026 The lawsuit does not specify the amount Santana and Smith are seeking in damages, but the filing requests compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, a public retraction, and a correction. —

Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for punitive damages

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of punitive damages was in 1858

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

punitive

punitive damages

punitory

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Punitive damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive%20damages. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

Copy Citation