as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
Australia was once a penal colony
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penal
Vick is charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities.
—
Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 12 Feb. 2026
In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
The Chinese are also concentrating on plug-in hybrids, which don’t carry the same penal tariffs as pure EVs, and which may have a long-term future if the EU decides to dilute its carbon dioxide emissions regime.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Sara has additionally been charged with possession of paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia and the introduction of contraband into a penal facility, police said.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penal
Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 12 Feb. 2026
In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
The Chinese are also concentrating on plug-in hybrids, which don’t carry the same penal tariffs as pure EVs, and which may have a long-term future if the EU decides to dilute its carbon dioxide emissions regime.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Sara has additionally been charged with possession of paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia and the introduction of contraband into a penal facility, police said.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penal
Adjective
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Although detention is meant to be non-punitive, advocates and lawyers have criticized the conditions at these facilities, such as a lack of healthcare, exposure to extreme heat, and unsanitary conditions.—
Ignacio Calderon,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in this Promotion and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Mari Cazares of Dallas, a former TDCJ correctional officer, booked into the Dallas County Jail.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The county should not hire candidates for the sheriff's office or correctional positions if their prior law enforcement experience was obtained at ICE, according to the Lehigh County Controller's Office recommendation obtained by Newsweek.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penal. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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