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
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2
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
Santa Clara County is set to receive $1.4 million of the penalty payment, which the district attorney's office said would go toward its Consumer Protection Fund.
—
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
She was subsequently convicted, fined, and handed six penalty points.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
What are penalties for driving under the influence?
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Additionally, the Teamsters say the delivery company has failed to create the 22,500 new full-time positions agreed to in the deal and has not paid penalty wages for overworking drivers.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
She was subsequently convicted, fined, and handed six penalty points.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
What are penalties for driving under the influence?
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Additionally, the Teamsters say the delivery company has failed to create the 22,500 new full-time positions agreed to in the deal and has not paid penalty wages for overworking drivers.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
In June, the city passed a new ordinance allowing year-round enforcement of fireworks regulations and fines of up to $10,000 for shooting them off near schools, parks and critical infrastructure.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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As hundreds of National Guard troops deployed on Tuesday in the nation's capital, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said homeless people in Washington, D.C., who refuse to move into shelters will face prosecution or fines.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Even many diehard Trump supporters grimaced, fearful of punishment at the polls.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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In addition to a 25% tariff set to go into effect Thursday, Trump also announced a 25% tariff on India that will go into effect later this month as punishment for importing Russian oil and gas.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There are advantages and disadvantages to consider.—
Michael Collins,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Advanced users were given the option of several versions of those models, all of which had advantages and disadvantages.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The episode also teases Cartman’s wrath at Bebe, another student at South Park Elementary.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
29 July 2025
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Countries that didn’t knuckle under — and those that found other ways to incur Trump’s wrath — got hit harder.—
Paul Wiseman,
Fortune,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This is in sharp contrast to the effort and expense involved in seeing a human therapist.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The friction comes from services that rely on property taxes and sales taxes — expenses that account for roughly 25 cents of every dollar Miami-Dade spends each year.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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