punish
verb (used with object)
to subject to pain, loss, confinement, death, etc., as a penalty for some offense, transgression, or fault.
has punished
-
present perfectof punish (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
The students clearly engaged in awful behavior, and Cornell has punished them after its investigation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
In the near term, the market has punished many of these companies for their spending plans.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
The economy has punished Dow stock this year.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025
This not the only time the FCA has punished a car finance firm for its treatment of vulnerable customers.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2024
He felt like a father who has punished his children too severely.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
