penalize

American  

[peen-l-ahyz, pen-] / ˈpin lˌaɪz, ˈpɛn- /

especially British, penalise

verb (used with object)

penalized, penalizing

1. to subject to a penalty, as a person.

2. to declare (an action, deed, etc.) punishable by law or rule.

3. to put under a disadvantage or handicap.

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penalize British  

/ ˈpiːnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to impose a penalty on (someone), as for breaking a law or rule

2. to inflict a handicap or disadvantage on

3. sport to award a free stroke, point, or penalty against (a player or team)

4. to declare (an act) legally punishable; make subject to a penalty

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Other Word Forms

• nonpenalized adjective
• overpenalization noun
• overpenalize verb (used with object)
• penalizable adjective
• penalization noun
• repenalize verb (used with object)
• unpenalized adjective

Etymology

Origin of penalize

First recorded in 1865–70; penal + -ize

Example Sentences

Kalshi, for its part, has penalized two users a total of about $6,000, including a onetime GOP candidate for California governor, for allegedly manipulating its markets.

From Los Angeles Times

“Those particular fines have not been used, they’ve used another way to penalize.”

From MarketWatch

Their players might be penalized with whistles and even the occasional right hook, but they wore Jordan down and won back-to-back championships.

From The Wall Street Journal

He spearheaded the concept of “secondary sanctions” to penalize even non-U.S. firms for doing business with the regime, angering Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

If they violate their trade pacts, Washington could also further penalize them under well-established laws.

From Barron's

Related Words

• castigate
• chastise
• discipline
• fine