punish

/ˈpʌnɪʃ/

/ˈpʌnɪʃ/

Other forms: punished; punishing; punishes

To punish is to discipline or penalize someone because they've done something wrong. If you stole the cookie from the cookie jar, someone may have to punish you. Not you? Then who?

A judge will often punish a guilty defendant with community service or parole — or sometimes even with time spent in prison, if the crime is serious enough. You probably punish your puppy for chewing your shoes simply with a firm "No!" Sometimes people are punished unfairly, like how higher gas prices punish the people who can already barely afford to drive to their jobs.

Definitions of punish

1. verb

   impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
   “we had to punish the dog for soiling the floor again”

   synonyms: penalise, penalize, sanction

   types:

   avenge, retaliate, revenge

   take revenge for a perceived wrong

   tar-and-feather

   smear the body of (someone) with tar and feathers; done in some societies as punishment

   execute, put to death

   kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment

   pillory

   punish by putting in a pillory

   castigate

   inflict severe punishment on

   amerce

   punish with an arbitrary penalty

   victimise, victimize

   punish unjustly

   scourge

   punish severely; excoriate

   correct, discipline, sort out

   punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience

   get back, get even

   take revenge or even out a score

   crucify

   kill by nailing onto a cross

   burn

   burn at the stake

   hang, string up

   kill by hanging