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punitive
adjective /ˈpjuː.nɪ.tɪv/
/-t̬ɪv/ Definition
› formal intended as a punishment: punitive action The UN has imposed punitive sanctions on the invading country.legal She is suing the newspaper for $5 million punitive damages, claiming they knew the article about her was untrue.Punishing and punishmentsPunishing by causing painHitting and beating › used to describe costs that are so high they are difficult to pay: The president has threatened to impose punitive import duties/tariffs on a range of foreign goods.Costing too muchExpensive and luxurious punitively
/-li/ adverb Punishing and punishmentsPunishing by causing painHitting and beating
(Definition of punitive adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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- Not punishing & reducing punishment
- People held in prison
- Physical & sexual assault & abduction
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- Punishing by causing pain
- Punishing someone by sending them somewhere else
- Putting people in prison
- Sex offenders
- Stealing
- Terrorism & political crime
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SMART Thesaurus: Punishing & punishments
Synonyms and related words:
- attach verb (TAKE GOODS)
- attachment noun (TAKING GOODS)
- bar verb (PREVENT)
- be brought/called to account idiom
- carrot and stick idiom
- catch up with sb phrasal verb (PUNISH)
- clobber verb (HIT)
- come down on sb/sth phrasal verb
- crucify verb
- discipline verb (PUNISH)
- flay sb alive idiom
- kick (some) ass idiom
- parking ticket noun
- penal adjective (PUNISHMENT)
- penalize verb (PUNISH)
- punish verb (CRIME)
- punishable adjective
- sentence noun (PUNISHMENT)
- skin sb alive idiom
- you might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb idiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
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