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
Officers can now evade punishment for misconduct when investigations into potential policy breaches take too long.
—
Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 26 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors began their punishment case Thursday and expect full days of testimony Friday and Tuesday, with a weekend recess to include Monday.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punishment 
Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 26 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors began their punishment case Thursday and expect full days of testimony Friday and Tuesday, with a weekend recess to include Monday.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punishment
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punishment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near punishment
Cite this Entry
“Punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punishment. Accessed 4 May. 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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