Synonyms of punishing

punishing 1 of 2

adjective

as in punitive

Related Words

• punitive
• advisory
• counseling
• moralistic
• didactic
• admonishing
• moralizing
• warning
• admonitory
• monitory
• cautionary
• exemplary
• premonitory
• cautioning

punishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of punish

as in penalizing

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

• penalizing
• fining
• disciplining
• criticizing
• sentencing
• correcting
• chastising
• convicting
• assessing
• castigating
• imposing
• chastening
• condemning
• charging
• levying
• reprimanding
• denouncing
• mulcting
• docking
• rebuking
• damning
• wreaking
• reproving
• keelhauling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sparing
• excusing
• pardoning
• forfeiting
• releasing
• commuting
• getting off
• ransoming
• vindicating
• exonerating
• acquitting
• absolving
• exculpating
• reprieving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of punishing

Adjective

The tragedy unfolds amid a punishing Western wildfire season driven by dry weather, scant snowpack, heat and erratic winds. — Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Pair him with Sharpe, and the Nets could build one of the league’s most punishing center rotations on the glass. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026

Instead, left under the most punishing economic sanctions Cubans have known in their lives, the island may slowly wither and die. — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026

First introduced in 1944, the multi-purpose off-roader with portal axles has been used as the basis for military, emergency, and commercial vehicles in some of the most punishing environments around the world. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025

But the new government, led by former rebels who toppled Bashar al-Assad, is urging US lawmakers to repeal the most punishing sanctions isolating Syria from the world economy. — Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Verb

Speaking with OutKick, Herz addressed the societal shift toward retroactively punishing individuals for online posts. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Five decades of operating successfully through punishing sanctions have taught the Iranian regime a thing or two about how to cope. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Instead, the self-regulating organization takes the day-to-day lead in devising standards, conducting oversight, enforcing rules, and punishing bad actors, drawing on its business members’ unique knowledge and real-world expertise. — William R. Gruver, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

On paper, the Republican senator from Missouri’s idea of punishing labs or users who have indeed acted recklessly or negligently while developing or deploying AI systems is a good one. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Consequently, those punishing wind gusts led to thousands of trees falling. — Matthew Delucia, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

The dominant rushing attack that earned them four lopsided wins to start the season was more methodical than punishing, but Cleveland High still ground out a 24-18 nonleague victory Friday over host Crenshaw. — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Yet, punishing such authoritarian lawbreakers for their domestic and international crimes is essential, in my view. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

But raising prices on remaining customers further risks punishing those who can't afford or physically fit solar panels on to their home. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026