1
as in fine
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penalty The court removed the IRS penalties, but the tax bill remained. Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The idea is that the penalties can up the competitiveness of domestic industry against countries that lack environmental protections and produce cheaper, more polluting products. Evan Clark, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024 The harshest penalties are reserved for amounts over 400 grams, and individuals caught with this quantity can face between 10 and 99 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 While a Trump Attorney General could decide not to enforce the fines, a subsequent administration could still choose to do so, by which point the American tech giants might owe penalties high into the billions. Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for penalty 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
  • He was ordered to pay $20 million in restitution and a $150,000 fine, the Department of Justice announced.
    Elias Lopez, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
  • However, due to not quite understanding what was happening when the race start was aborted, Norris received a reprimand and a fine of €5,000.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The report found cases of women being attacked by staff members in all 50 states, often without punishment for the accused.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
  • According to an informal poll taken by The Athletic, 62% of respondents voted for a lifetime ban; 18.2% elected a suspension of 1-5 years; 17.4% went with a 1-year prohibition; and 2.4% said no further punishment is necessary.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • But life in Kingstree and surrounding communities is marked by poverty, a lack of access to health care, and other socioeconomic disadvantages that have given South Carolina poor rankings in key health indicators such as rates of death and obesity among children and teens.
    Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Over these same years, the polling tells us that Democrats have gone from having a modest edge in how voters identify themselves in partisan terms to having a small disadvantage.
    Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Russia’s wrath hangs over Georgia elections Saturday's election will pit the Moscow-leaning Georgian Dream government against several pro-Western opposition parties, among them the United National Movement party founded by Saakashvili in 2001.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2024
  • As villagers attempt to thwart her ghostly presence, Nak’s wrath and enduring love become forces to reckon with.
    Patrick Frater, Variety, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The biggest offseason expense will be quarterback Brock Purdy, who still has one year and $1.1 million left on his original rookie deal as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
    Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • From routine costs — like co-pays at doctor's visits, therapy sessions and prescription medications — to unexpected medical bills, health care expenses weigh heavily on many people's budgets.
    Becca Stanek, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near penalty

Cite this Entry

“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on penalty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!