Synonyms

punish

American

[puhn-ish] / ˈpʌn ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

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:

penalize, discipline, castigate, chastise

Antonyms:

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

Unconditional imprisonment is imposed to punish past transgressions.

Synonyms:

penalize

Antonyms:

reward
to mistreat, abuse, or hurt.

Additional tariffs will punish working families with higher prices on household basics.
to handle severely or roughly, as in a fight.
to put to painful exertion, as a horse in racing.
Informal. to make a heavy inroad on; deplete.

to punish a quart of whiskey.

verb (used without object)

to inflict punishment.

punish British

/ ˈpʌnɪʃ /

verb

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

to punish a horse
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

Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of punish

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

Explanation

To punish is to discipline or penalize someone because they've done something wrong. If you stole the cookie from the cookie jar, someone may have to punish you. Not you? Then who? A judge will often punish a guilty defendant with community service or parole — or sometimes even with time spent in prison, if the crime is serious enough. You probably punish your puppy for chewing your shoes simply with a firm "No!" Sometimes people are punished unfairly, like how higher gas prices punish the people who can already barely afford to drive to their jobs.

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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.

See Examples For:

punish punishes punished punishing

The country has strict gun laws, which punish the illegal possession of arms with up to 10 years in jail, but enforcement of these laws has been an issue.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which is helping represent Prabhakar, argues that public colleges may establish curriculum requirements but cannot punish professors merely because administrators dislike ideas expressed in relevant course material.

From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026

AMERICA’S distinctive advantage was always the liberal side of the rule of law: specifically, the types of rules that secure private property, punish anticompetitive conduct and hold the state at arm’s length from the firm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," he said in a social media post, promising to set up fast-track courts to punish those involved in question paper leaks.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Once we’re back, Mom and Dad don’t punish Garrett, which in itself worries me a little.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Open always walks a tightrope between presenting a difficult test—one that rewards good shots and appropriately punishes bad ones—and creating conditions that veer into the absurd.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

“It reflects a legitimate and important state interest in protecting people from harassment and threats. But at the same time, this bill punishes the publication of information.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

Gattuso admitted the team's shortcomings: "When you have chances and don't take them, football punishes you."

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026

The market often punishes the larger party in potential deals like this, which would create a beauty giant with a combined market capitalization of about $40 billion.

From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026

The walk home is a steep one, and I wonder if it’s yet another way she punishes herself.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

In the near term, the market has punished many of these companies for their spending plans.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Higher crude costs threaten to widen India’s import bill and push up inflation, and have punished the rupee, which has weakened more than 6% against the dollar this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

And he's been warned that he will be punished if he discusses his health, or his legal case.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Apple touched a $5 trillion market value this week, while some rivals have seen their shares punished as investors question the profitability of their huge AI bets.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

For this base action Zeus himself punished him: he sent him to Lydia to be a slave to the Queen, Omphale, some say for a year, some for three years.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

It’s the latest effect forecast for what’s expected to be an historically strong event, one forecasters warn could also lash Southern California with powerful rain and broil both land and sea with punishing heat waves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Such punishing rates are economically harmful, and Wisconsin doesn’t need a reason beyond winter weather for residents to flee to Florida or Arizona.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Three female lions at a Tokyo zoo have died of suspected heat-related illness, as Japan battles punishing summer temperatures.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

No one wants to wonder what could have been if it turns out quarterback Matthew Stafford can’t count on Nacua getting open and punishing defenders downfield.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Would they, then, be punishing Brigid instead of her?

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023