as in to penalize
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the child was punished for breaking dishes on purpose if caught, the thief will be severely punished
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punish
Battles demand patience, but every minor misstep is devastatingly punished to test your zen.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
A week after his murder, however, the late activist's closest allies are moving swiftly to punish anyone caught making light of the 31-year-old activist's assassination in Utah this month − or even just criticizing his own controversial statements.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately for Henry, his good deed goes highly punished.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 18 Sep. 2025
Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.
—Stephen L. Carter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punish
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
A week after his murder, however, the late activist's closest allies are moving swiftly to punish anyone caught making light of the 31-year-old activist's assassination in Utah this month − or even just criticizing his own controversial statements.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately for Henry, his good deed goes highly punished.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 18 Sep. 2025
Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.
—Stephen L. Carter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punish
Verb
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As women are also disproportionately penalized—facing more guilt and pushback—career advancement can feel costly in ways that offset the financial gains.—
Renessa Boley Layne,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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However, immediately after hitting that big field goal, Borregales was penalized for missing the landing zone on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Dolphins the ball at their own 40-yard line for a potential game-winning drive.—
Michael Hurley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Notable Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase revealed that she was fined by the league after her comments regarding Game 1’s officiating.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
17 Sep. 2025
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Brimmer agreed that a deterrent was needed and fined Bell the $150,000.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More generally, the Nepalese public criticized the government’s measures disproportionate impact on ordinary users.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Republicans on Sunday criticized some Democrats, suggesting language used by them contributed to Kirk's killing, claims that Democrats rejected.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Miller often called well into the evening, Dudek said, to chastise him about anything the press had reported that day that had caught the administration off guard.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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Kelley is chastised and eventually replaced by Gustave Gilbert (Colin Hanks), a rival psychologist with a different take, one that opposes Kelley’s more humanistic approach in defining the horrors of that time.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, Iranian state media reported, after the rights group Amnesty International said the man, Babak Shahbazi, had been sentenced to death in an unfair trial marred by allegations of torture.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Wenger still faces sentencing in that case, regardless of how the civil rights trial pans out.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Syed’s case was made famous by the 2014 podcast Serial, which won a Peabody Award for its investigation that explored whether Syed was wrongfully convicted.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
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Lee's ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in 2000.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many have been fired from their jobs, disciplined, or publicly shamed for criticizing the conservative commentator.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Shurin said the union provided testimony that showed fire department employees who were involved in serious motor vehicle accidents had not been disciplined.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In June 2024, the district ordered Tesla to correct ongoing violations of toxic air pollution coming from the factory’s paint shops, allegations the company denied.—
Taylor Kate Brown,
ProPublica,
17 Sep. 2025
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Course-correcting a technical process is like truing a wheel.—
Barbara Wittmann,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punish. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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