as in correctional
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
any misbehavior was immediately met with a punitive response the company had to pay a million dollars in punitive damages
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Recent Examples of punitive
If passed, the amendments would end the practice of forcing inmates to work for less than $1 an hour or face additional punitive measures.
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Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
And rather than adopting a punitive stance if someone does lose focus, leaders can appreciate that team members may need regular help refocusing.
—Adrian Gostick, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Consider the proposal that Trump has floated on the campaign trail: a 20 percent tariff on all imports coupled with a 60 percent punitive tariff on those from China.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2024
On the presidential campaign trail, Trump has proposed the idea of a punitive universal tariff of—depending on the day—ten to 20 percent or higher on all imports from all countries, as well as a 60 percent tariff on goods from China.
—Miriam Sapiro, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punitive 
Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
And rather than adopting a punitive stance if someone does lose focus, leaders can appreciate that team members may need regular help refocusing.
—Adrian Gostick, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Consider the proposal that Trump has floated on the campaign trail: a 20 percent tariff on all imports coupled with a 60 percent punitive tariff on those from China.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2024
On the presidential campaign trail, Trump has proposed the idea of a punitive universal tariff of—depending on the day—ten to 20 percent or higher on all imports from all countries, as well as a 60 percent tariff on goods from China.
—Miriam Sapiro, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punitive
Thesaurus Entries Near punitive
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punitive. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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