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.
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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
Britain and the EU -- which London left in 2020 -- have been at the forefront of trying to punish Moscow with sanctions since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
It seeks unstated “exemplary damages” from the city, “sufficient to punish and make an example” as well as attorneys’ fees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
The division continues to enforce environmental laws, punish fraudsters and smugglers, honor our nation’s treaty and trust obligations to tribes, and defend federal agencies’ efforts to protect and develop responsibly our wildlife and natural resources.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
There is no thundering of hoofbeats, no racing to catch and punish us.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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Immigration attorneys have spoken out against the practice, saying it punishes people who are trying to comply with the rules and turns the justice system into a place of fear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Telegram Chief Executive Pavel Durov said on X that the ban punishes the app’s more than 150 million users in India over the actions of a few.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
Gattuso admitted the team's shortcomings: "When you have chances and don't take them, football punishes you."
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 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
The walk home is a steep one, and I wonder if it’s yet another way she punishes herself.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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My understanding is that you must commit a crime in order to be punished, right?
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
"It felt like I was being punished for doing the sensible thing," he says.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
It is unclear whether Leonard could be punished.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
During a visit to the scene, Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi said those responsible for the bloodshed would be punished.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
It had probably beat up its fair share of demons and also punished a bunch of souls.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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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
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
“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
An AFP journalist captured rare footage at Al-Rahmaniyah camp showing exhausted women shuffling under a punishing sun, jerrycans swaying on their heads after hours spent waiting for water at a distant well.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
But simply punishing the broken—walking away from them or hiding them from sight—only ensures that they remain broken and we do, too.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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Vocabulary lists containing punish
Louder than Hunger
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"Seeking Freedom"
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