punishment

noun

pun·​ish·​ment ˈpə-nish-mənt How to pronounce punishment (audio)
Synonyms of punishmentnext
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 of punishment

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Move to Build Strength, Not to Burn Calories Stop treating exercise as a chore or a punishment. — Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026 Before Tuesday's vote, the punishment has been doled out just 28 other times. — Claudia Grisales, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 New figures released Tuesday show the punishments have continued. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The suit alleges his punishment threatens a doctorate seven years in the making and two quarters from completion. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punishment

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of punishment was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing punishment

Browse Nearby Words

punisher
punishment
punition
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Cite this Entry

“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punishment. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

punishment

noun
pun·​ish·​ment ˈpən-ish-mənt How to pronounce punishment (audio)
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

Legal Definition

punishment

noun
pun·​ish·​ment
1
: the act of punishing
2
: a penalty (as a fine or imprisonment) inflicted on an offender through the judicial and especially criminal process see also cruel and unusual punishment
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