PUNISH Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'punish' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of punish are castigate , chasten , chastise , correct , and discipline . While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. // punished for stealing

Q: When is 'castigate' a more appropriate choice than 'punish'?

Although the words castigate and punish have much in common, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. // an editorial castigating the entire city council

Q: When might 'chasten' be a better fit than 'punish'?

The meanings of chasten and punish largely overlap; however, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. // chastened by a landslide election defeat

Q: In what contexts can 'chastise' take the place of 'punish'?

In some situations, the words chastise and punish are roughly equivalent. However, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation. // chastised his son for neglecting his studies

Q: When can 'correct' be used instead of 'punish'?

The words correct and punish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. // the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Q: When would 'discipline' be a good substitute for 'punish'?

The words discipline and punish can be used in similar contexts, but discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control. // parents must discipline their children

punish

verb

ˈpə-nish

Definition of punish next

as in to penalize

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime the child was punished for breaking dishes on purpose if caught, the thief will be severely punished

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word punish distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of punish are castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, and discipline. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

When is castigate a more appropriate choice than punish?

Although the words castigate and punish have much in common, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When might chasten be a better fit than punish?

The meanings of chasten and punish largely overlap; however, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

In what contexts can chastise take the place of punish?

In some situations, the words chastise and punish are roughly equivalent. However, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When can correct be used instead of punish?

The words correct and punish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When would discipline be a good substitute for punish?

The words discipline and punish can be used in similar contexts, but discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

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 punish That was a warning sign Chelsea did not heed and City punished them two minutes later. Having previously waited for the play to come to him, Nunes took matters into his own hands by running on the inside of Marc Cucurella and beyond the last line to meet a ball over the top from Gundogan. —

Sam Lee, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025 But TikTok argued that lawmakers disliked TikTok and its users’ speech and merely found a pretext for punishing it. —

Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 24 Jan. 2025 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was also punished last season for using a curse word at a press conference in Mexico in October and fined the equivalent of $10,514. —

Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025 But amid his flurry of executive orders, Trump floated the idea of punishing China if a TikTok deal couldn’t be reached. —

Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Asia, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for punish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punish

Verb

Even if President-elect Trump declines to enforce the ban, the law would still be on the books, and companies like Apple and Google could be penalized down the road for violations.

— Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
Instead, the law was designed to penalize internet providers and companies with App stores like Apple and Google for continuing to make updates available, The New York Times reported, so the app would degrade over time and become unusable.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025