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
No penalty was called on the play late in the second period of the teams’ game Sunday.
—
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Not only will utility executives suffer no penalties, but Edison retains its monopoly, deserved or not.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
City went 2-1 ahead in the 80th minute after Erling Haaland scored from the penalty spot, only for Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham to then hit back for the Spanish side.
—Dan Sheldon, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
That would exceed the highest CBT penalty threshold, set at $301 million this season, for the second year in a row.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Not only will utility executives suffer no penalties, but Edison retains its monopoly, deserved or not.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
City went 2-1 ahead in the 80th minute after Erling Haaland scored from the penalty spot, only for Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham to then hit back for the Spanish side.
—Dan Sheldon, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
That would exceed the highest CBT penalty threshold, set at $301 million this season, for the second year in a row.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
-
Google last week agreed to pay €326 million ($341 million) in taxes, fines and interest for not paying taxes on income generated in Italy between 2015 and 2019, specifically on revenues generated by selling advertising space.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The star was also ordered to pay a $350 fine and court fees.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Team members need to feel safe to voice their opinions, ask judgment-free questions, and admit mistakes without fear of punishment and humiliation.—
Martin Zwilling,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
-
When failure is punished, people stop trying for fear of punishment, and progress slows to a crawl.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Magic’s ineptitude puts them at a severe disadvantage on most nights.—
Josh Robbins,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
-
On Reddit, a new mom ranted about how working conditions in corporate America put parents at a disadvantage.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There has been growing concern within several news outlets about drawing the wrath of the Trump administration.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Almost all of those companies have kept silent publicly, for fear of drawing the wrath of the Trump administration or endangering any court challenges.—
Ellen Knickmeyer and Heather Hollingsworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
That move has raised concerns that the lower prices will come at the expense of product quality, the person said.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The two parties’ incessant need to fight about cultural issues has come at the expense of focusing on economic mobility.—
Mike Madrid,
The Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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