as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
forced to listen to a penalizing lecture on the consequences of lying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in punishing
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalizing
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Deena Zaidi,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
Cell phones in work zones Senate Bill 366 cracks down on distracted driving by penalizing motorists who use cell phones in construction and school zones.
—
Matthew Kelly
july 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
The sheriff’s office said the incidents in question proved that internal checks strengthened by court orders were working properly, and that the monitor was penalizing the department for following those orders and policies.
—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
25 June 2026
Missing the green was brutally penalizing, as well.
—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
As a result, many workplaces reward women who are pleasant while penalizing those who are direct.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
The focus should be on solving the underlying issue, not penalizing the people doing the work.
—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Assuming otherwise undermines patient safety while penalizing the professionals who care for the most vulnerable patients.
—
Dr. John Guzzi,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2026
But opposition to the new flag recently led exasperated Democratic legislators, hoping to make a point, to propose a last-minute bill penalizing cities that opted for the former flag.
—
Jeremy Fugleberg,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
Adjective
Beginning in 2026, the rules surrounding deducting losses become even more penalizing.
—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
The divergence shows investors are rewarding those making the key parts of the AI buildout, especially chips, and penalizing those paying for it.
—
Deena Zaidi,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
Cell phones in work zones Senate Bill 366 cracks down on distracted driving by penalizing motorists who use cell phones in construction and school zones.
—
Matthew Kelly
july 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
The sheriff’s office said the incidents in question proved that internal checks strengthened by court orders were working properly, and that the monitor was penalizing the department for following those orders and policies.
—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
25 June 2026
Missing the green was brutally penalizing, as well.
—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
As a result, many workplaces reward women who are pleasant while penalizing those who are direct.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
The focus should be on solving the underlying issue, not penalizing the people doing the work.
—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Assuming otherwise undermines patient safety while penalizing the professionals who care for the most vulnerable patients.
—
Dr. John Guzzi,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2026
But opposition to the new flag recently led exasperated Democratic legislators, hoping to make a point, to propose a last-minute bill penalizing cities that opted for the former flag.
—
Jeremy Fugleberg,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalizing
Adjective
-
Woods is seeking compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
-
The Thunder traded guards Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, respectively, shedding their contracts to try to duck under the NBA’s punitive second-apron threshold.
Verb
-
Americans across the nation are being asked (or ordered) to conserve water, thanks to widespread drought made even worse by a punishing heat wave.
-
What Argentina don’t do particularly proficiently, for all their strengths, is offer a serious threat on the counter-attack, punishing opponents for pushing forward.
Cite this Entry
“Penalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalizing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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