Synonyms

punishable

American

[puhn-i-shuh-buhl] / ˈpʌn ɪ ʃə bəl /

adjective

liable to or deserving punishment.

ˈpunishable British

/ ˈpʌnɪʃəbəl /

adjective

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

nonpunishable adjective
punishability noun
repunishable adjective
unpunishable adjective

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.

Failure to do this is classed as an "illegal practice", which can be punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Tastelessness is not punishable by law, and neither is adapting a beloved novel however a filmmaker sees fit.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

And the crime of kissing is punishable by death, raising the stakes as a young sales assistant bonds with a regular customer.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Mosbah has been charged with illicit enrichment, which is punishable by up to six years in prison, and money laundering, which comes with a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, Abed told AFP.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

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

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