punitive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nonpunitive adjective
- nonpunitory adjective
- punitively adverb
- punitiveness noun
- self-punitive adjective
- semipunitive adjective
- semipunitory adjective
- unpunitive adjective
Etymology
Origin of punitive
1615–25; < Medieval Latin pūnītīvus of punishment, equivalent to Latin pūnīt ( us ) (past participle of pūnīre to punish ) + -īvus -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If this is the only property you both own, it seems unnecessarily punitive to force a sale upon the death of one spouse.
From MarketWatch
It did not back Dean's claim for more than $144m in punitive damages against the firm.
From BBC
“They awarded an amount far below what was sought, and declined to award punitive damages altogether.”
Her baking is tireless and punitive, as though she were preparing medicine.
Several other large firms followed and made similar deals to avoid the punitive orders, collectively agreeing to provide nearly $1 billion in pro bono work.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
