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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 penalty was the second for Urías under the policy after a 20-game suspension in 2019. Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025 Those who violated these laws had reason to fear serious consequences, including prosecution and the penalty of watching secretive deals unwound in the light of public condemnation. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025 The Trump administration is also considering financial penalties on countries that do business with Venezuela, according to the report. Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 Mar. 2025 And that included nine penalties against him in only seven games last fall. Pat Leonard, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
  • Audit failures, rising fines and outdated methods indicate that traditional auditing can no longer keep pace.
    William Tarr, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Judges have threatened to use contempt findings and fines, and Pildes said those warnings can be serious.
    Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The firm warns Trump’s punishments of firms could diminish the independence of lawyers and force them to embrace viewpoints of whichever group happens to hold governmental power.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Jason Rogers, a sixth-grade teacher in the Underwood School District, was charged with malicious punishment of a child, according to court documents.
    Ingrid Harbo, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • If Eichorn resigned, Republicans would have a two-seat disadvantage.
    Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 19 Mar. 2025
  • This outdated thinking is becoming a competitive disadvantage for media companies, sponsors, and investors who fail to recognize the shift in consumer preferences.
    Lindsey Darvin, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The film’s first trailer release sparks new backlash, this time around its stars’ political leanings Instead of enthusiasm and anticipation for the movie, Disney’s first official Snow White trailer drop incurred the wrath of fans on either side of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
    Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The cause of Montgomery's wrath, and of his March 30 date, is the Federal Communications Commission, which set an April 1, 2025, deadline for smaller jails to lower the obscene rates of inmate phone calls.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Related Story The company added that this development stage will pave the way for global biomass sourcing and will promote local production facilities with biomass suppliers, further minimizing shipping and production expenses and emissions.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Those expenses included costs related to study abroad programs, postgraduate scholarships, vocational school scholarships, technology fees and other costs that are connected to education.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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