punish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
That could further reward companies already monetizing the historic capital expenditures necessitated by the AI build-out and punish those still burning cash on promises, according to market analysts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
"The All Blacks are a classy outfit, and they'll punish you if you're not on your A- game, and at times we weren't," admitted Irish skipper Dan Sheehan.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
U.S. officials said the attacks both punish Tehran for targeting ships in the strait and pressure the regime back to the negotiating table.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
“I don’t think we punish anybody who hasn’t watched the old show,” says Bowie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Why me? You trying to punish me for what I told you yesterday?”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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Open always walks a tightrope between presenting a difficult test—one that rewards good shots and appropriately punishes bad ones—and creating conditions that veer into the absurd.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
“It reflects a legitimate and important state interest in protecting people from harassment and threats. But at the same time, this bill punishes the publication of information.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
"However we believe this must be done in a way that supports rather than punishes Welsh households, businesses and our farming sector."
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026
The market often punishes the larger party in potential deals like this, which would create a beauty giant with a combined market capitalization of about $40 billion.
From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026
Any system that constricts teachers—holds them to small-bore metrics, punishes them for forces outside their control, discourages their creativity and spontaneity, chips away at their humanity—is a bad system.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
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“When people are punished for exercising their First Amendment rights, we begin losing the democratic principles that protect all of us. Every American should be alarmed by retaliatory action against one’s free speech.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
My understanding is that you must commit a crime in order to be punished, right?
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
“No one who wants to open should be punished and no one who doesn’t want to should be forced.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Buoyed by victories over France and Italy, the All Blacks punished a litany of first-half Irish errors as Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan and Asafo Aumua all crossed to secure the bonus point.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Others shouldn’t be punished for the prince’s actions.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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After a punishing year-long tour, the singer accepted a few acting roles, wrote the soundtrack to Emerald Fennel's adaptation of Wuthering Heights and married her longterm partner George Daniel.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Charging companies is the strongest weapon in the Justice Department’s arsenal for punishing businesses that violate the law.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Underneath the quiet sits a live wire: the “Magnificent Seven,” nearly left for dead after a punishing first half of 2026, but quietly coming back to life in the past two weeks.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
“At the end of the day, they end up just punishing people who are either fast test takers or know the material.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Washington gathered vital intelligence about the way the French were turning some tribes against the English and punishing Indians who would not aid the French.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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Vocabulary lists containing punish
Louder than Hunger
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"Seeking Freedom"
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