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Synonyms

punishable

American  
[puhn-i-shuh-buhl] / ˈpʌn ɪ ʃə bəl /

adjective

  1. liable to or deserving punishment.


punishable British  
/ ˈpʌnɪʃəbəl /

adjective

  1. liable to be punished or deserving of punishment

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of punishable

1375–1425; late Middle English. See punish, -able

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:

Federal law bars gun possession by people who are convicted of crimes that are punishable for a term exceeding one year.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 17, 2026

Doing so would be a violation of Article 13 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, punishable by a $7.5-million fine, the loss of a first-round draft pick and the voiding of Leonard’s contract.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 9, 2026

Voting in an election when the voter is ineligible is a second-degree felony under Texas law and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

From Salon Jul. 7, 2026

"If this player touches the ball with a punishable part of the arm then for sure, this should be a penalty kick," Collum said.

From BBC May 29, 2026

Alabama is among the growing list of states that make the murder of a person under the age of fourteen a capital offense punishable by the death penalty.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

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