punishment
noun
pun·ish·ment
ˈpə-nish-mənt 
1
: the act of punishing
2
a
: suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution
b
: a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
Synonyms
Examples of punishment in a Sentence
I took away my daughter's car keys as a punishment for her bad behavior.
The punishments that the government has inflicted on the protesters are severe and unjust.
The punishment for murder is life imprisonment.
Some religions teach that wicked people will suffer eternal punishment in hell after they die.
Recent Examples on the Web
The report found cases of women being attacked by staff members in all 50 states, often without punishment for the accused.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
According to an informal poll taken by The Athletic, 62% of respondents voted for a lifetime ban; 18.2% elected a suspension of 1-5 years; 17.4% went with a 1-year prohibition; and 2.4% said no further punishment is necessary.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Abdulaziz was sentenced to five years in prison—a severe punishment for a prince.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Editor’s picks After Steel finished his address Thursday, Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Williams to a punishment that didn’t even include Williams’ offer to spend three years on house arrest with an ankle monitor.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punishment 
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Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
According to an informal poll taken by The Athletic, 62% of respondents voted for a lifetime ban; 18.2% elected a suspension of 1-5 years; 17.4% went with a 1-year prohibition; and 2.4% said no further punishment is necessary.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Abdulaziz was sentenced to five years in prison—a severe punishment for a prince.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Editor’s picks After Steel finished his address Thursday, Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Williams to a punishment that didn’t even include Williams’ offer to spend three years on house arrest with an ankle monitor.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punishment
Dictionary Entries Near punishment
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punishment. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punishment
noun
pun·ish·ment
ˈpən-ish-mənt
1
a
: the act of punishing
b
: the state or fact of being punished
persons undergoing punishment
2
: the penalty for a fault or crime
the punishment for robbery
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
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