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
In the wake of Kirk’s murder, and the high-profile punishments incurred by those who weren’t properly remorseful, Kirk morphed into one of the most widespread memes in recent memory.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Those examples from this school year fit into a pattern of fraternity hazing, investigations and punishments that have played out repeatedly in recent years.
—Matthew Kelly
april 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
The women’s rulings are among the latest in a series of punishments issued amid a broader government crackdown on dissent.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Could harsher punishments for people creating excessive noise be the key to ensuring more peace and quiet?
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
Some politicians said the punishments didn't go far enough.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Same sentences for all The fates of the detainees are now being decided in mass trials, with anonymous judges handing down one-size-fit-all punishments to large groups of defendants following the proceedings via video-link from prison.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Potential punishments included a reprimand or a censure, which serve as forms of public rebuke.
—Kevin Freking, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Despite the punishments, Mexico fans yelled the slur again at Qatar 2022 during matches against Poland and Saudi Arabia.
—Carlos Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Those examples from this school year fit into a pattern of fraternity hazing, investigations and punishments that have played out repeatedly in recent years.
—Matthew Kelly
april 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
The women’s rulings are among the latest in a series of punishments issued amid a broader government crackdown on dissent.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Could harsher punishments for people creating excessive noise be the key to ensuring more peace and quiet?
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
Some politicians said the punishments didn't go far enough.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Same sentences for all The fates of the detainees are now being decided in mass trials, with anonymous judges handing down one-size-fit-all punishments to large groups of defendants following the proceedings via video-link from prison.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Potential punishments included a reprimand or a censure, which serve as forms of public rebuke.
—Kevin Freking, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Despite the punishments, Mexico fans yelled the slur again at Qatar 2022 during matches against Poland and Saudi Arabia.
—Carlos Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishments
penalties
Noun
-
The penalties were imposed in September after an investigation by the sheriff’s internal affairs unit.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
So while the matchups were a factor in the game, their impact was lessened by all the penalties.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punishments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishments. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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