punish
[verb]
Synonyms: discipline, castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, penalize, sentence

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Antonyms: excuse, pardon
Contrasted words: overlook, absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate, let off, release
Related Words: criticize, reprove, amerce, fine, mulct, penalize, avenge, fix, revenge, lambaste, scourge

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English Thesaurus: punish, fine, sentence, penalize, discipline, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

pun‧ish /ˈpʌnɪʃ/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: punishable, punishing, unpunished, punitive; verb: punish; noun: punishment]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: punir, from Latin punire, from poena; ⇒ pain¹]

1. to make someone suffer because they have done something wrong or broken the law ⇒ punishment, punitive:
Smacking is not an acceptable way of punishing a child.
He promised to punish severely any officials found guilty of electoral fraud.
punish somebody for (doing) something
It’s unfair to punish a whole class for the actions of one or two students.
They deserve to be punished for putting passengers at risk.
I felt I was being punished for what my mother had done.
punish somebody by doing something
My parents decided to punish me by withdrawing financial support.
punish somebody with something
The House voted to punish the senator with a formal reprimand.

2. [usually passive] if a crime is punished in a particular way, anyone who is guilty of it is made to suffer in that way ⇒ punishment, punitive
punish by/with
In some societies, theft is punished by death.

3. punish yourself to make yourself feel guilty or bad for something you have done:
If you fail, don’t punish yourself.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

punish
verb
ADV. severely | justifiably, justly | unfairly | accordingly, duly Those who had opposed the court were duly punished.
VERB + PUNISH want to | try to He was trying to punish her for deserting him all those years ago.
be designed to Damages are not designed to punish the person in breach, but to compensate for the loss sustained.
PREP. by Never punish children by making them go hungry.
for They will be severely punished for their crimes.
with Offenders will be punished with a £1,000 fine.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

punish to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something wrong or broken the law:
Drug smugglers are severely punished.
She wanted to punish him for deceiving her.
fine to make someone pay money as a punishment:
The company was fined for safety violations.
sentence if a judge sentences a criminal, he or she gives them an official punishment, usually sending them to prison for a period of time:
The judge sentenced Margolis to a year in prison.
penalize (also penalise British English) to officially punish someone, especially by taking away their right to do something or by limiting their freedom in some way:
New laws will penalize firms that continue to pollute the environment.
discipline to punish someone who has broken the rules of an organization that they belong to or work for:
Officers are expected to discipline soldiers who do not keep their uniforms in good condition.
come down hard on somebody informal to punish someone or criticize them severely:
The judge came down hard on Harris, saying that his crime was ‘inexcusable’.
make an example of somebody to punish someone so that other people are afraid to do the same thing:
Athletics officials felt they had to make an example of him for using banned drugs.
teach somebody a lesson informal to do something in order to show someone that they must not do something again, when they have behaved very badly:
I didn't want to hurt him - I just wanted teach him a lesson.
Maybe a night in jail will teach him a lesson.
make somebody pay (for something) informal to make someone wish they had never done something, by making them suffer:
We should make him pay for all the mischief he's caused!
punishment something that is done in order to punish someone, or the act of punishing them:
I don’t think they deserved such a severe punishment.
The usual punishment is life in prison.
penalty a general word for a punishment given to someone who has broken a law, rule, or agreement:
What’s the penalty if you get caught?
He called for stiffer penalties for crimes involving guns.
the death penalty (also capital punishment) the system in which people are killed as a punishment for crimes:
If he is found guilty, he faces the death penalty.
A number of states have abolished capital punishment.
community service unpaid work helping other people that someone does as punishment for a crime:
He was given a choice between doing 200 hours of community service, or a big fine.
corporal punishment the punishment of children by hitting them:
I don’t agree with corporal punishment.
Corporal punishment was abolished in schools in 1987.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

punishment something that is done in order to punish someone, or the act of punishing them:
I don’t think they deserved such a severe punishment.
The usual punishment is life in prison.
sentence a punishment given by a judge in a court:
He was given a long prison sentence.
They asked for the maximum sentence.
fine an amount of money that you must pay as a punishment:
I got an £80 fine for speeding.
There are heavy fines for drink-driving.
penalty a general word for a punishment given to someone who has broken a law, rule, or agreement:
What’s the penalty if you get caught?
He called for stiffer penalties for crimes involving guns.
the death penalty (also capital punishment) the system in which people are killed as a punishment for crimes:
If he is found guilty, he faces the death penalty.
A number of states have abolished capital punishment.
community service unpaid work helping other people that someone does as punishment for a crime:
He was given a choice between doing 200 hours of community service, or a big fine.
corporal punishment the punishment of children by hitting them:
I don’t agree with corporal punishment.
Corporal punishment was abolished in schools in 1987.
punish to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something wrong or broken the law:
Drug smugglers are severely punished.
She wanted to punish him for deceiving her.
penalize (also penalise British English) to officially punish someone, especially by taking away their right to do something or by limiting their freedom in some way:
New laws will penalize firms that continue to pollute the environment.
discipline to punish someone who has broken the rules of an organization that they belong to or work for:
Officers are expected to discipline soldiers who do not keep their uniforms in good condition.
come down hard on somebody informal to punish someone or criticize them severely:
The judge came down hard on Harris, saying that his crime was ‘inexcusable’.
make an example of somebody to punish someone so that other people are afraid to do the same thing:
Athletics officials felt they had to make an example of him for using banned drugs.
teach somebody a lesson informal to do something in order to show someone that they must not do something again, when they have behaved very badly:
I didn't want to hurt him - I just wanted teach him a lesson.
Maybe a night in jail will teach him a lesson.
make somebody pay (for something) informal to make someone wish they had never done something, by making them suffer:
We should make him pay for all the mischief he's caused!

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲