verb

punish

PUH-nihsh

verb

To make someone suffer a penalty for wrongdoing or misconduct.

"The school punished the students for cheating."

"Her parents punished her by taking away her phone."

To treat something harshly or subject it to a lot of strain.

"The marathon really punished his knees."

How to Use Punish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make someone pay a penalty for doing something wrong.

Common pairings

punish severely punish a crime punish the offender

punished past tense, punishes singular

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The school _____ the students for cheating.

From Old French punir, from Latin punire, "to inflict punishment," from poena, "penalty."

amerce castigate chasten chastise come down on correct fix someone's wagon have someone's guts for garters have someone's head have someone's hide give it to someone give someone what for

forgive let off reward

accurate forgive attack correct penalty just blame fine

amerce castigate chasten chastise come down on correct fix someone's wagon have someone's guts for garters have someone's head have someone's hide give it to someone give someone what for