punish

verb

ˈpə-nish How to pronounce punish (audio)
Definition of punishnext
as in to penalize
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime the child was punished for breaking dishes on purpose if caught, the thief will be severely punished

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word punish distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of punish are castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, and discipline. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

When is castigate a more appropriate choice than punish?

Although the words castigate and punish have much in common, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When might chasten be a better fit than punish?

The meanings of chasten and punish largely overlap; however, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

In what contexts can chastise take the place of punish?

In some situations, the words chastise and punish are roughly equivalent. However, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When can correct be used instead of punish?

The words correct and punish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When would discipline be a good substitute for punish?

The words discipline and punish can be used in similar contexts, but discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

Example Sentences

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 punish President Trump Friday angrily vowed to impose stiff new tariffs on European imports and Apple iPhones to punish them for not making concessions fast enough in his trade war. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025 Other elite institutions were also punished for refusing to bow to the administration’s policy demands. —Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 23 May 2025 Polis said in his veto letter that the 2024 bill would unfairly punish those who didn’t directly engage in wage theft. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 23 May 2025 Jose finds her and whisks her back to the house — not to punish her, but because he’s found Simone, sobbing her eyes out on the floor. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for punish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punish
  1. penalize
  2. fine
  3. criticize
  4. chastise
  5. sentence
  6. convict
  7. discipline
  8. correct
Verb
  • This tax is part of a larger bill to improve housing market accessibility for residents, including taxing short-term rental and penalizing owners that leave homes empty.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Young Republicans also overwhelmingly backed several provisions of the PRO Act that the survey tested, such as expediting the collective-bargaining process, posting information about labor rights in workplaces, and penalizing companies that violate the law.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 May 2025
Definition of penalize
Verb
  • In 2021, the NFL fined the Washington Commanders $10 million and removed Dan Snyder from day-to-day operations after a toxic workplace culture came to light.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 31 May 2025
  • The company was fined $18 million, issued a cease and desist order and directed to restore areas that saw environmental damage.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of fine
Verb
  • At the same time, Lively was freshly criticized for her reaction to an interviewer in a resurfaced 2016 clip.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Harry and Meghan have been criticized for making money out of projects that criticized the royal family, including through the multiyear, multimillion dollar Netflix deal that the Harry & Meghan documentary was part of.
    — Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • House Republicans chastised Lamont and majority Democrats last month for shorting this contractual obligation by $228 million in their respective budget proposals for the next two fiscal years.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
  • Some Democrats chastised universities for cracking down on unruly pro-Palestinian protests.
    — Dallas Morning News, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
Definition of chastise
Verb
  • However, he was released in 1991 after serving two and a half years, then sentenced to 25 years to life in 2013 after violating probation.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
  • The suspect in the killing of a popular youth mentor was allowed to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, then sentenced to life in a mental health hospital, court records show.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 May 2025
Definition of sentence
Verb
  • In 1996, a corrupt patrol officer was convicted of ordering the killing of Kim Groves, the grandmother of escapee Derrick Groves, NOLA.com reported.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Two of the four were convicted of accepting bribes.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Definition of convict
Verb
  • Generally, protesters and speakers were not disciplined.
    — John Branch, New York Times, 1 June 2025
  • State prosecutors said Sierra chose not proceed and Perez was eventually disciplined and demoted from detective to a street patrol for his involvement with the woman.
    — Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025
Definition of discipline
Verb
  • This story was changed to correct the address of TheaterWorks Hartford and to update changes in the performance schedule.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 May 2025
  • This story was updated to correct a typo in Mandi Jung's name.
    — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Definition of correct

Browse Nearby Words

puniness
punish
punishable
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Cite this Entry

“Punish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punish. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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