Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
     
Lookup History
punish

pun·ish

punish

 
 
pronunciation:
puh nihsh
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: punishes, punishing, punished
definition 1: to impose a penalty on (someone) for a real or imagined offense.
He punished his child for cursing.
synonyms:
penalize
antonyms:
pardon
similar words:
amerce, avenge, castigate, chasten, chastise, discipline, fine, fix, keelhaul, mulct, pay, scourge, sentence, tar and feather
definition 2: to impose a penalty for (a real or imagined offense).
Courts punish murder severely.
synonyms:
penalize
antonyms:
excuse, forgive
similar words:
avenge, chastise
definition 3: to injure, harm, or treat roughly.
A long race can punish one's body.The hurricane punished the coastal towns.
synonyms:
abuse, damage, harm, injure
similar words:
batter, beat up, cripple, hurt, impair, maltreat, manhandle, rough up, ruin, spoil, thrash, trounce
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition: to subject someone or something to punishment.
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: punisher (n.)
Word Explorer
See
  crime, law, moral