as in penalties
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
he is serving five years in prison as punishment for aggravated assault
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Recent Examples of punishments
As punishments, the girl was required to write Bible verses and tread water for as long as 45 minutes.
—
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The victim in the case reported that she was subjected to more frequent punishments and restrictions than the couple's six other children.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Most Muslim majority counties have laws that reference shaira, and some countries’ have laws that critics say include cruel punishments or place undue restrictions on women and minorities, per the council.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
Nothing might seem to have longer odds in deep-red Oklahoma than an effort to lessen punishments for violent crimes, but overcrowded prisons and rising costs were already forcing a rethinking of harsh, decades-old sentencing laws.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
But none of these events, which many women faced in Anglo‑Saxon England, were failures or punishments in the ritual.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Smart did not specify what the punishments for Cole and Ikinnagbon would be.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
The family challenged these unfair punishments.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
The fight While punishments for people who've caused fatal crashes while high have varied wildly from state to state, Resecker's sentence stands out for being unusually tough, especially given his young age, according to a USA TODAY review of similar cases.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The victim in the case reported that she was subjected to more frequent punishments and restrictions than the couple's six other children.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Most Muslim majority counties have laws that reference shaira, and some countries’ have laws that critics say include cruel punishments or place undue restrictions on women and minorities, per the council.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
Nothing might seem to have longer odds in deep-red Oklahoma than an effort to lessen punishments for violent crimes, but overcrowded prisons and rising costs were already forcing a rethinking of harsh, decades-old sentencing laws.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
But none of these events, which many women faced in Anglo‑Saxon England, were failures or punishments in the ritual.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Smart did not specify what the punishments for Cole and Ikinnagbon would be.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
The family challenged these unfair punishments.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
The fight While punishments for people who've caused fatal crashes while high have varied wildly from state to state, Resecker's sentence stands out for being unusually tough, especially given his young age, according to a USA TODAY review of similar cases.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishments
penalties
Noun
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Taxpayers who need more time can request a six-month filing extension — but any taxes owed must still be paid by the April deadline to avoid penalties and interest.—
Hali Smith
April 4,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The penalties imposed on attorney Stephen Brigandi include $15,500 in disciplinary sanctions and nearly $80,500 in opposing counsel’s legal fees.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punishments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishments. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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