1
as in fine
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
The commission’s citations report shows PG&E has been hit with millions of fines over wildfires, but no apparent penalties related to substation maintenance issues.
—
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Bad decisions and bad penalties turned what could have been a great road trip into a so-so one in the Bruins’ trip finale in Seattle on Tuesday.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
There are no penalties in place for users or their families, but everyone in Australia who wants to use social media could have to submit to a fairly onerous series of age verifications—for instance, uploading a video selfie that will be analyzed by artificial intelligence.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
He’s also become one of the key figures on the NHL’s second-best penalty kill.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Bad decisions and bad penalties turned what could have been a great road trip into a so-so one in the Bruins’ trip finale in Seattle on Tuesday.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
There are no penalties in place for users or their families, but everyone in Australia who wants to use social media could have to submit to a fairly onerous series of age verifications—for instance, uploading a video selfie that will be analyzed by artificial intelligence.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
He’s also become one of the key figures on the NHL’s second-best penalty kill.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
The new fines and allegations are the latest controversy to flare up around Boring Company.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Failure to comply could result in a contempt order, which can lead to fines or potentially force the businesses to shut down.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As for what the punishment was for Rhoades, the school would not comment any further regarding the incident.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The passage of Proposition 36, a tougher-on-crime law that placed stricter punishments on repeat drug and theft offenders, has given both agencies more opportunities to try to help those in custody suffering from drug addiction.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But without Cooper, Willams and Patton, the Cyclones will be at a severe personnel disadvantage.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Hoffman acknowledged that the developers of data centers have been prone to operate in secret out of their concern of putting clients at a competitive disadvantage compared with rival companies.—
Peter Passi,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In 2025, 23 weather and climate events exceeded $1 billion in damages, costing a total of around $115 billion, according to an analysis released Thursday by the nonprofit organization Climate Central.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The United States experienced nearly two dozen billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2025, causing at least 276 fatalities and costing a total of $115 billion in damages.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Grace becomes a doting mother, but the house becomes the subject of her wrath.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Disney is incredibly unlikely to ever admit that politics were a factor in Doctor Who‘s cancellation, but Jimmy Kimmel’s brief suspension was revealing of the company’s desire to minimize MAGA wrath.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Different food hubs help farmers cut expenses by providing a variety of resources, such as warehousing, transportation and delivery, education, marketing, contract management and some even provide supplies to farmers.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
However, data provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges shows that cost-of-living increases, not tuition, drove up the expense of studying medicine in recent years.—
Tribune News Service,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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