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.

A new border tax will penalize imports based on their carbon footprint, but it isn’t clear how exactly that will work in this complicated supply chain, said Matthew Thoelke of Chemical Market Analytics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

A tax-law change in 2027 will penalize owners of public sports teams, which could pressure the company to consider a sale.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

Whether the Securities and Exchange Commission will penalize him for his alleged breaking of the law by failing to disclose his first purchases of Twitter stock this year remains up in the air.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2022

Mayor Bill de Blasio is bucking calls to require face coverings again, saying it will penalize people who got vaccinated and sow doubt in those who might still come forward.

From Washington Times • Jul. 22, 2021

Sometimes a modification of the environment through social changes will suddenly reverse this process and will penalize a hitherto favored type.

From The Rising Tide of Color Against White World-Supremacy by Stoddard, Lothrop