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View synonyms for

punish

[ puhn-ish ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to subject to pain, loss, confinement, death, etc., as a penalty for some offense, transgression, or fault:

    The goal of the court is to punish the criminal for the crime he has committed.

    Synonyms: , , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to inflict a penalty for (an offense, fault, etc.):

    Unconditional imprisonment is imposed to punish past transgressions.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

  3. to mistreat, abuse, or hurt:

    Additional tariffs will punish working families with higher prices on household basics.

  4. to handle severely or roughly, as in a fight.
  5. to put to painful exertion, as a horse in racing.
  6. Informal. to make a heavy inroad on; deplete:

    to punish a quart of whiskey.



verb (used without object)

  1. to inflict punishment.

punish

/ ˈʌɪʃ /

verb

  1. to force (someone) to undergo a penalty or sanction, such as imprisonment, fines, death, etc, for some crime or misdemeanour
  2. tr to inflict punishment for (some crime, etc)
  3. tr to use or treat harshly or roughly, esp as by overexertion

    to punish a horse

  4. informal.
    tr to consume (some commodity) in large quantities

    to punish the bottle

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܲԾ󾱲Բ, adjective
  • ˈܲԾ, noun
  • ˈܲԾ󾱲Բly, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·· noun
  • ··ܲ· verb
  • ·ܲ· verb (used with object)
  • ܲ·-ܲ· adjective
  • ·ܲ· verb
  • -ܲ· adjective
  • ܲ·ܲ· adjective
  • ɱ-ܲ· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of punish1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English punischen, from Middle French puniss-, long stem of punir, from Latin ūī; akin to poena penalty, pain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of punish1

C14 punisse, from Old French punir, from Latin ūī to punish, from poena penalty
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Synonym Study

Punish, correct, discipline refer to making evident public or private disapproval of violations of law, wrongdoing, or refusal to obey rules or regulations by imposing penalties. To punish is chiefly to inflict penalty or pain as a retribution for misdeeds, with little or no expectation of correction or improvement: to punish a thief. To correct is to reprove or inflict punishment for faults, specifically with the idea of bringing about improvement: to correct a rebellious child. To discipline is to give a kind of punishment that will educate or will establish useful habits: to discipline a careless driver.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"If Brazil fills in the US quota of goods exports to China, the US may choose to punish Brazil."

From

Under U.S. law, noncitizens may be detained and deported, but they can’t be punished and imprisoned without a trial.

From

But it is generally understood people cannot be punished and sent to a prison unless they have been convicted of a crime.

From

Despite the punishing headwinds, the county balanced its $48-billion recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which officials credit to cautious financial planning.

From

The government said the new powers to punish executives were needed because in the past water companies had failed to hand over vital evidence related to illegal sewage discharges.

From

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Punic Warspunishable