Synonyms

punishable

American

[puhn-i-shuh-buhl] / ˈpʌn ɪ ʃə bəl /

adjective

liable to or deserving punishment.

ˈpunishable British

/ ˈpʌnɪʃəbəl /

adjective

liable to be punished or deserving of punishment

"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

Other Word Forms

nonpunishable adjective
punishability noun
repunishable adjective
unpunishable adjective

Etymology

Origin of punishable

1375–1425; late Middle English. See punish, -able

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A violation of the law is punishable by a fine of $1,000 per offense.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Sierra Leone, which had one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage, made attending or even being the DJ at the wedding of a child a punishable crime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Failure to do this is classed as an "illegal practice", which can be punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Tastelessness is not punishable by law, and neither is adapting a beloved novel however a filmmaker sees fit.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

It was a minor rule, rather like rudeness, punishable only by gentle chastisement.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023