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punitive

/ˈpjunədɪv/

/ˈpjunɪtɪv/

Punitive describes inflicting a punishment. If someone takes punitive action against you, you'll probably whine and complain — you're in trouble and you're about to get punished.

An easy way to remember the meaning of punitive is that it looks like the word punish — both come from the Latin root word punire, "to inflict a penalty on." Punitive doesn't always refer to a person-to-person punishment, like a mom disciplining a child. It can also describe the unpleasant result of an action on a large scale, like the punitive effect higher taxes will have on the middle class.

Definitions of punitive
  1. adjective
    inflicting punishment
    punitive justice”
    punitive damages”
    synonyms: punitory
    correctional
    concerned with or providing correction
    penal
    serving as or designed to impose punishment
    penitentiary
    used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
    relatiative, retaliatory, retributive, retributory, vindicatory
    of or relating to or having the nature of retribution
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    rehabilitative
    designed to accomplish rehabilitation
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘punitive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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