as in punitive
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as in penalizing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punishing
Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
First introduced in 1944, the multi-purpose off-roader with portal axles has been used as the basis for military, emergency, and commercial vehicles in some of the most punishing environments around the world.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
But the new government, led by former rebels who toppled Bashar al-Assad, is urging US lawmakers to repeal the most punishing sanctions isolating Syria from the world economy.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
During its years in power, Poland's Law and Justice party tightened control over the courts by appointing loyalist judges to higher courts and punishing critics with disciplinary action.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
The first was director David Pablos’ powerful and punishing Mexican thriller On the Road, which premiered in Venice and walked away with the Orizzonti prize.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
The combination of exploration, car culture, and a handling model that is grounded in reality without being punishing has proven out as a winning formula.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 May 2026
The highly unusual step — a sitting alderman accused of punishing critics with his official powers then filing suit against the city — follows years of Gardiner repeatedly focusing on the situation in the City Council chambers.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
However, beneath the surface, Cramer said the market has become increasingly bifurcated, with investors piling into a narrow group of artificial intelligence winners while severely punishing companies that disappoint or simply fail to impress.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Instead of punishing students who don’t respect the right to express diverse viewpoints, Bayrex MartĂ, a UCLA dean, warned the Federalist Society not to identify the disruptive students.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Instead of punishing students who don’t respect the right to express diverse viewpoints, Bayrex MartĂ, a UCLA dean, warned the Federalist Society not to identify the disruptive students.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Adjective
Instead, left under the most punishing economic sanctions Cubans have known in their lives, the island may slowly wither and die.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
First introduced in 1944, the multi-purpose off-roader with portal axles has been used as the basis for military, emergency, and commercial vehicles in some of the most punishing environments around the world.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
But the new government, led by former rebels who toppled Bashar al-Assad, is urging US lawmakers to repeal the most punishing sanctions isolating Syria from the world economy.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
Now, with rates above 5% on home equity products and above 20% on revolving credit card balances, the carrying cost of that debt has become punishing.
—Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
During its years in power, Poland's Law and Justice party tightened control over the courts by appointing loyalist judges to higher courts and punishing critics with disciplinary action.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
The first was director David Pablos’ powerful and punishing Mexican thriller On the Road, which premiered in Venice and walked away with the Orizzonti prize.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
The combination of exploration, car culture, and a handling model that is grounded in reality without being punishing has proven out as a winning formula.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 May 2026
The highly unusual step — a sitting alderman accused of punishing critics with his official powers then filing suit against the city — follows years of Gardiner repeatedly focusing on the situation in the City Council chambers.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
However, beneath the surface, Cramer said the market has become increasingly bifurcated, with investors piling into a narrow group of artificial intelligence winners while severely punishing companies that disappoint or simply fail to impress.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Instead of punishing students who don’t respect the right to express diverse viewpoints, Bayrex MartĂ, a UCLA dean, warned the Federalist Society not to identify the disruptive students.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Instead of punishing students who don’t respect the right to express diverse viewpoints, Bayrex MartĂ, a UCLA dean, warned the Federalist Society not to identify the disruptive students.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishing
Adjective
-
Before Marseille’s 1-0 win at Le Havre last weekend, the squad were confined to the club’s La Commanderie training base for four consecutive days as a punitive measure after a succession of poor performances.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Angola does not plan to pursue punitive measures against mining companies such as export quotas or bans in order to bolster its domestic mining industry, a senior minerals minister said.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The administration first proposed penalizing states with AI safety regulations without any federal substitute.—
Sam Liccardo,
Washington Post,
22 May 2026
-
Investors began penalizing layoff announcements rather than rewarding them.—
Julie Averill,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Bewilderingly, both men ended up in the penalty box, but the NHL came down on Benn for the play, fining him more than $2,600 for the dangerous play.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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Playing hardball with Lawrence, dragging this deep into the summer, not adjusting his contract and fining him during training camp would be a worrisome way for Harbaugh and the Giants to proceed.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The union accuses the company of engaging in interference and retaliation by disciplining a bargaining committee member for attending bargaining sessions, protected activity under federal law.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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The complaint alleges that district personnel’s concern over asbestos exposure was feigned to justify disciplining Rupert.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The football game directive came about a week after Ingoglia held a press conference criticizing Alachua County — where UF’s campus is located — for excessive or wasteful spending to the tune of $84 million over five years, claiming the budget grew by 77%.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
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Trump spent months criticizing Warsh’s predecessor, Jerome Powell, for being reluctant to cut interests rates, with the Republican president arguing that lower borrowing costs would provide an economic boost.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The appeals court that ordered a trial court to reconsider Peters' sentence said the trial judge's consideration of her belief in the existence of 2020 election fraud went beyond what was relevant to sentencing her.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Farber has held off on sentencing Weinstein until the remaining count is resolved.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Where quantum computing and machine learning are already being combined most helpfully, Ekert argues, is in physicists’ use of classical AI to design quantum error-correcting codes and better quantum hardware.—
Zeeya Merali,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
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As a professional proofreader, Fuyuko (Yukino Kishii) spends her days and nights finding and correcting mistakes.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Almost immediately after releasing Einstein, Paliwal started receiving emails from professors chastising him for creating a tool seemingly designed to perpetuate academic fraud.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the newest major candidate to enter the race, hewed toward partisan middle ground, chastising leaders in Sacramento for allowing the state budget to balloon without tangible improvements to housing affordability, homelessness and public schools.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishing. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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