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.
In the near term, the market has punished many of these companies for their spending plans.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Wall Street has punished the company amid steep losses in its cable TV and broadband internet units, and because NBCUniversal has historically generated its biggest profits from its cable channels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
That money has helped the family weather weak crop prices and persistent drought that has punished farms across America.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
The economy has punished Dow stock this year.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025
He felt like a father who has punished his children too severely.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
