Showing results for "punishing"

• present participle of punish.

punishing

American  

[puhn-i-shing] / ˈpʌn ɪ ʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing or characterized by harsh or injurious treatment; severe; brutal.

   The storm was accompanied by punishing winds.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpunishing
  adjective
• self-punishing
  adjective
• unpunishing
  adjective
• unpunishingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of punishing

1425–75; late Middle English punyesand; see punish, -ing ²

Explanation

Something punishing is extremely physically difficult to do. On a very hot, humid day, even a 5K is a punishing race to run. Anything that exhausts you because it's so demanding can be described with the adjective punishing. A punishing hike leaves you gasping and applying bandages to your blisters. A punishing argument with your family is more mentally arduous. Sometimes, punishing things weaken or debilitate: "The lack of snow had a punishing result for the ski industry." Rarely, punishing also means "leading to punishment."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

punishing

The famed railroad line along the San Clemente coast has found itself on the endangered list amid a relentless assault from rising seas and punishing surf.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

"You have house rules, family limits, discipline and consequences. But the difference is we look at discipline as learning and teaching rather than punishing."

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

She says I’m putting a price on her contribution as a wife and mother and punishing her for not having a career.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

U.S. markets seem a bit off to many observers lately: Bonds are in the grips of a punishing selloff, driving yields to roughly two-decade highs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

“But even punishing him’s not so important as making sure Lyra’s safe. That’s the most important thing.”

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• brutal
• grueling
• punitive