punitive
serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment: punitive laws; punitive action.
Origin of punitive
1- Also pu·ni·to·ry [pyoo-ni-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]. /ˈpyu nɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/.
Other words from punitive
- pu·ni·tive·ly, adverb
- pu·ni·tive·ness, noun
- non·pu·ni·tive, adjective
- non·pu·ni·to·ry, adjective
- self-pu·ni·tive, adjective
- sem·i·pu·ni·tive, adjective
- sem·i·pu·ni·to·ry, adjective
- un·pu·ni·tive, adjective
Words that may be confused with punitive
- penal, penological, punitive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use punitive in a sentence
Under Engler’s administration, Michigan lowered the age at which children could be tried as adults to 14, although some could be younger, and instituted more punitive juvenile sentencing provisions, among other measures.
Judges Are Locking Up Children for Noncriminal Offenses Like Repeatedly Disobeying Their Parents and Skipping School | by Jodi S. Cohen and Duaa Eldeib | December 22, 2020 | ProPublicaHer own outlook has changed, but many prosecutors and judges in Michigan continue to view juvenile justice in a punitive way, she said.
Judges Are Locking Up Children for Noncriminal Offenses Like Repeatedly Disobeying Their Parents and Skipping School | by Jodi S. Cohen and Duaa Eldeib | December 22, 2020 | ProPublicaOfficials in the Rio Grande Valley interviewed for this story say their intentions were never punitive but were meant to combat a once-in-a-lifetime crisis.
Restrictions on the South Texas Border Were Meant to Protect People From COVID-19. Then the Handcuffs Came Out. | by Vianna Davila and Ren Larson | December 19, 2020 | ProPublicaHarrison said the intent of the bill is not to be punitive, but to make it easier for families to make healthier choices.
Goodbye Coke, hello milk! Prince George’s pushes healthy kids’ menu | Rachel Chason | November 30, 2020 | Washington PostAdvocates of criminal justice reform argue that societies around the world – and the United States in particular – would benefit from lighter sentences and less punitive criminal justice systems.
Why It’s Important To See Women As Capable … Of Terrible Atrocities | LGBTQ-Editor | November 21, 2020 | No Straight News
The idea of dealing punitively with those unfortunates was given up at least fifty years ago, and I think more.
Looking Backward | Edward Bellamy
British Dictionary definitions for punitive
less commonly punitory (ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ, -trɪ)
/ (ˈpjuːnɪtɪv) /
relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment: a punitive expedition
Origin of punitive
1Derived forms of punitive
- punitively, adverb
- punitiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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