as in punitive
Related Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
None of that requires punishing him with a public flogging.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Other touring artists have squeezed Met Gala appearances into similarly punishing windows when the cultural payoff justified the cost.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Allies of the United States are responding to an internal Pentagon email that allegedly floated several ideas for punishing uncooperative members of NATO.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
The company is not punishing underperformers.
—Greg Bensinger, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Who gets crushed The pain is not distributed equally—and the skew is punishing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungarian artists were subject to punishing censorship.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Homelessness is already punishing.
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 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
Those tensions hit a new high when Reuters published an internal Defense Department email last week that proposed punishing Britain for its position on Iran by reviewing America’s position on the Falkland Islands.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
None of that requires punishing him with a public flogging.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Other touring artists have squeezed Met Gala appearances into similarly punishing windows when the cultural payoff justified the cost.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Allies of the United States are responding to an internal Pentagon email that allegedly floated several ideas for punishing uncooperative members of NATO.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
The company is not punishing underperformers.
—Greg Bensinger, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Who gets crushed The pain is not distributed equally—and the skew is punishing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungarian artists were subject to punishing censorship.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Homelessness is already punishing.
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishing
Adjective
-
Voters who worry about Talarico’s deployment of faith may not be reassured by Paxton’s rather punitive approach to Christianity.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Also in February, the White House unveiled Project Vault, a $12 billion initiative to stockpile critical minerals and insulate American industry from punitive export restrictions.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … ‘INSANE’ — Minnesota mayors drag 'ridiculous' bill penalizing cities for not flying new controversial flag.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
The goal, the bill’s supporters said, is to support local governments that are trying to build more housing and need the program’s funds to do it — without penalizing them for failing to hit targets that those governments have criticized since the program was created.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Association has pushed for higher participation during the 82-game onslaught, going as far as to mandate players play 65 games to be eligible for the season-long awards and fining teams for resting players in certain situations.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
His Instagram reels often show him criticizing the LGBTQ+ community.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
Senator Lisa Murkowski, that Republican of Alaska, who's one of the more notable folks up here on the Hill on the GOP side about criticizing the war in Iran, has floated in conversations with reporters in the hallway here the possibility of drawing up an AUMF and putting it up for a vote.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
In the sports betting case, sentencing guidelines call for a punishment of 21 to 27 months in prison.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Law & Crime, sentencing in the case is scheduled for June 30.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a separate homeowner lawsuit in Oklahoma state court, State Farm's lawyers said the company launched an initiative in 2020 to improve the accuracy of its claims-handling practices, including correcting overpayment and underpayment of claims for wind and hail damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
By correcting the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants (referred to as oxidative stress), the polyphenols may improve arterial function and help ease blood pressure.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
