punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nə-tiv 

: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment

severe punitive measures

punitively adverb

punitiveness noun

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Punitive and the Law

Punitive is an important word in the law. When you sue a person or company for having wronged you in some way, you normally ask for something of value equal to what you were deprived of by the other party. But when the defendant has done something particularly bad, you may also ask for punitive damages, money over and above the actual cost of the harm done, intended to teach the defendant a lesson. Punitive damages are fairly rare, but when they're actually granted they may be as much as four times the size of the basic damages.

Synonyms

• castigating
• chastening
• chastising
• correcting
• correctional
• corrective
• disciplinary
• disciplining
• penal
• penalizing

Examples of punitive in a Sentence

The federal government will take punitive action against the company that polluted the river.

Lobbyists complain that the bill would impose punitive taxes on the industry.

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result of President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs regime, economists across the ideological spectrum say the breadth and scope of the tariffs are likely to throw the US economy into reverse and harm Americans financially. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 1 May 2025

India also unleashed several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending its participation in a water-sharing treaty that is critical for its smaller neighbor. —Anupreeta Das, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, is moving forward with a bill to impose new sanctions on Russia and punitive tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil, gas and uranium, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. —Sonam Sheth gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

Despite little evidence of progress being made in trade negotiations between the two countries, recent reports suggested some tariff relief on the ground as both governments sought to blunt the economic impacts of punitive tariffs. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French punitif, from Medieval Latin punitivus, from Latin punitus, past participle of punire

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing punitive

• punitive damages

Kids Definition

punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nət-iv 

1

: of or relating to punishment or penalties

punitive law

2

: intended to inflict punishment

a punitive expedition against outlaws

punitively adverb

Legal Definition

punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nə-tiv 

: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment

punitively adverb

punitiveness noun