PUNISHMENTS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

punishments

noun

plural of punishment

as in penalties

suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense he is serving five years in prison as punishment for aggravated assault

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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.

Recent Examples of punishments Hisbah members also face widespread allegations of rights abuses in their enforcement operations, including subjecting offenders to dehumanizing punishments such as public beatings or shaming. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 The films also involve normie couples caught up in hauntings, dealt Old Testament–style punishments by forces from the great beyond. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 The zaobanchu during Qianlong’s reign comprised nearly one thousand artisans, who worked out of fear to serve the demands of the insatiable emperor who would sometimes dole out severe punishments, like taking away a year’s salary. — Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 The Ethics Committee has the power to investigate violations of federal law and House rules, and can recommend punishments for members who are found to have committed them. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 On January 20m, 2026, NBC News reported that with the pardons in 2025, the financial crimes pardons represented hundreds of millions in punishments that would now disappear. — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 The staggered nature of Southampton’s punishments has contributed to a curious situation. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Such measures rely on the carceral assumption that harsher punishments will deter violence, despite strong evidence to the contrary. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 But the players argue the NCAA is using the transfer portal, and especially potential punishments for schools and coaches who recruit players outside of portal windows, to undermine the injunction. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punishments

penalties

Noun

The Big 12 did not mention what the penalties would be for programs that bring back NBA, NFL or WNBA players to their teams.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Had Meta refused to settle and lost, the company could have faced as much as $200 billion in combined penalties, Reuters reported — suggesting that the social media giant was probably at least somewhat concerned about the possibility of a loss.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of penalties

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punishment

punishments

punitive

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“Punishments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punishments. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of punishments

noun

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