punishment
[noun]
Synonyms: penalty, chastening, chastisement, correction, discipline, penance, retribution

---

Antonyms: excuse, pardon
Contrasted words: overlooking, acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication
Related Idioms: carrot-and-stick treatment, disciplinary action, dose of strap oil, what for
Related Words: criticism, reproof, amercement, fine, mulct, penalty, avengement, revenge

---

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

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

pun‧ish‧ment W3 /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ noun
[Word Family: adjective: punishable, punishing, unpunished, punitive; verb: punish; noun: punishment]

1. [uncountable and countable] something that is done in order to punish someone, or the act of punishing them ⇒ punitive
punishment for
The punishment for treason is death.
as a punishment
I was sent to bed as a punishment.

2. [uncountable] informal rough physical treatment:
tough plants that can take any amount of punishment
⇒ capital punishment

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

punishment
noun
ADJ. cruel, harsh, heavy, severe | unusual the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment
appropriate, fitting | capital | corporal, physical
VERB + PUNISHMENT administer, hand out, impose, inflict, mete out It is unlawful for a teacher to inflict corporal punishment on pupils. Harsh punishment is expected to be meted out to the murderer.
receive, suffer | avoid, escape | deserve
PUNISHMENT + VERB fit the crime The victim's family do not believe that this punishment fits the crime.
PREP. as ~ (for) She had to tidy the classroom as punishment for being late.
~ for Punishments for killing the king's deer were severe.
PHRASES crime and punishment the sociology of crime and punishment
on pain of punishment (= with the threat of punishment) He was compelled on pain of punishment to answer the question.
reward and punishment They use a system of reward and punishment to discipline their children.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

punishment

harsh/severe
The court decided the original punishment was too severe.
light
The punishment seemed very light.
just/fitting (=appropriate and right)
Death would be a just punishment.
physical punishment
Children respond more to affection than to physical punishment.
corporal punishment (=when someone punishes a child by hitting them)
Corporal punishment is banned in state schools.
capital punishment (=death as a punishment for a crime)
The are trying to abolish capital punishment except in cases of terrorism.
the maximum punishment
The charge against him carries a maximum punishment of a year in jail.
give somebody a punishment
He deserved the punishment he was given.
The teacher may impose reasonable punishments.
hand out punishments (=give people punishments)
The courts are handing out harsher punishments to reckless drivers.
impose/mete out a punishment formal (=give someone a punishment)
Life imprisonment should be the maximum punishment meted out by the state.
receive a punishment
He received the maximum punishment.
escape/avoid punishment
The thieves managed to escape punishment.
carry a punishment (=used when saying what the punishment for something is)
The offence carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
inflict a punishment (on somebody) (=punish someone, especially physically)
The abbot could inflict corporal punishment for gross disobedience.
the punishment should fit the crime (=it should be appropriate)
The public believe that the punishment should fit the crime.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

punishment
noun
BAD: The police are in favour of stricter punishments.
GOOD: The police are in favour of harsher punishments.

Usage Note:
severe/harsh punishment (NOT strict/strong ): 'A prison sentence seems a very severe punishment for tax evasion.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

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 ▲