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

Derived 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

I asked if she worried that Pratt’s agenda would amount to punishing 70,000 people for the actions of a much smaller number, like the man who had terrorized her.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026

Bollywood has long been known for punishing schedules, with shifts often stretching from 12 to 18 hours and, at times, continuing for more than a day during intensive shoots.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

A punishing hangover from pandemic-era overinvestment had already left the gaming industry reeling.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

Harvard may get a more empowering storyline than his florist-hairdresser-retail-clerk predecessors, but the humor is redolent of the same punishing cliches.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

“No. I’m not punishing you for breaking the display,” Dad says.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Related Words

• brutal
• grueling
• punitive