punitive Definition
- 1inflicting or intended as punishment
- 2serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment
Using punitive: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "punitive" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company imposed punitive measures on employees who violated its policies.
Example
The judge handed down a punitive sentence to the convicted criminal.
Example
The government implemented punitive tariffs on imported goods.
Example
The coach gave the team a punitive workout after their poor performance.
punitive Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for punitive
Antonyms for punitive
Phrases with punitive
punitive damages
monetary compensation awarded to a plaintiff in a lawsuit as a form of punishment to the defendant for their wrongdoing
Example
The court ordered the company to pay $10 million in punitive damages to the victim.
Example
The school administration took punitive action against the students who were caught cheating on the exam.
a military operation undertaken to punish an enemy for an offense
Example
The government launched a punitive expedition against the rebels who attacked the border town.
Origins of punitive
from Latin 'punit-', the stem of 'punire', meaning 'to punish'
Summary: punitive in Brief
The term 'punitive' [ˈpjuːnɪtɪv] refers to actions or measures that are intended to inflict punishment, often in response to wrongdoing. It can be used in legal contexts, such as 'punitive damages,' or in military contexts, such as 'punitive expedition.' Synonyms include 'penal' and 'disciplinary,' while antonyms include 'rewarding' and 'compensatory.'