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Synonyms

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of punishing

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

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.

Since his punishing trilogy with Tyson Fury - a rivalry that saw him knocked down five times and stopped twice - Wilder has struggled to rediscover his destructive form.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

“I realize neither of you have served as attorneys with actual clients for a very long time,” he wrote, accusing them of “attacking an attorney and punishing his clients” for appealing their decision.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

But Harper's salvo proved to be in vain as Venezuela regained the lead in the ninth inning, punishing a shaky performance from US reliever Garrett Whitlock to clinch victory.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Long framed by a tin roof and a tent, the theater had a reputation for discomfort, as it was a source of punishing heat and the occasional mouse sighting.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Rather than punishing me, Schindler had rewarded me for my curiosity.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.