punitive
Use Punitive in a sentence
nɪ adjective
serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment: punitive laws; punitive action.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To punitive
00:10
Punitive
is always a great word to know.
So is abet. Does it mean:
| to suppress |
| to encourage, support, or countenance by aid or approval, usually in wrongdoing: |
Collins
World English Dictionary
punitive or punitory (ˈpjuːnɪtɪv, ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ, -trɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment: a punitive expedition | |
| [C17: from Medieval Latin pūnītīvus concerning punishment, from Latinpūnīre to punish] | |
| punitory or punitory | |
| —adj | |
| [C17: from Medieval Latin pūnītīvus concerning punishment, from Latinpūnīre to punish] | |
| 'punitively or punitory | |
| —adv | |
| 'punitiveness or punitory | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
punitive
1624, "inflicting or involving punishment," from Fr. punitif (16c.), from M.L. punitivus (c.1260), from L. punitus, pp. of punire (see punish).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
In addition to compensatory damages the courts began to award punitive damages.
Punitive raids as well as the spread of diseases brought in by settlers decimated their ranks.
But the costs, borne by extended families, can be punitive.
The new laws are even more demanding and punitive to wrongdoing than they were a few years ago.
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