punitive
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.
Panish told jurors in Van Nuys that they needed to award punitive damages not only to punish Grossman and Erickson but also to send a message about their conduct.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
They are self-censoring and disengaging from campaign activism to avoid punitive measures.
From Salon • May 28, 2026
He added that education, rather than "punitive punishment", is the solution to children displaying discriminatory behaviour where it comes from a "lack of understanding and without intention to offend".
From BBC • May 26, 2026
To your point: This rather punitive tax structure encourages grantors — again, that’s you — to distribute income to beneficiaries rather than retain that income, which is then compressed into higher tax brackets.
From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026
Also on the list are the punitive armies of Rome, the fecklessness of Byzantium, Ottoman indifference, and British gunboats.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
Vocabulary lists containing punitive
This Week in Words: September 15 - 21, 2018
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Just Mercy
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Auggie & Me
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