to punish someone for breaking a rule or law, to put a disadvantage on someone or something

Formal and Informal Expressions of penalize

In different contexts, you can replace 'penalize' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'punish, discipline' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'slap on the wrist, put the screws to' is a commonplace synonym.

penalize: Explore its Definition & Usage

penalize Definition

1to punish someone for breaking a rule or law
2to put a disadvantage on someone or something

Using penalize: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "penalize" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The referee penalized the player for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Example
The new tax policy will penalize small businesses.
Example
The company was penalized for violating environmental regulations.
Example
The teacher penalized the students for cheating on the exam.

penalize Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for penalize

Antonyms for penalize

Phrases with penalize

penalize for
to punish someone for doing something wrong
Example
The company was penalized for violating environmental regulations.
penalize with
to put a disadvantage on someone or something
Example
The new tax policy will penalize small businesses.
penalize points
to deduct points from a score as a penalty for breaking a rule
Example
The team was penalized points for having too many players on the field.

Origins of penalize

from French 'pénaliser', from 'pénal' meaning 'punishment'

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Summary: penalize in Brief

The verb 'penalize' [ˈpiːnəlaɪz] means to punish someone for breaking a rule or law, or to put a disadvantage on someone or something. It is often used in legal, sports, and business contexts, such as 'The referee penalized the player for unsportsmanlike conduct,' and 'The new tax policy will penalize small businesses.' 'Penalize' can be used with prepositions like 'for' and 'with,' and can also refer to deducting points from a score as a penalty.