punishing

[puhn-i-shing]

adjective

1. causing or characterized by harsh or injurious treatment; severe; brutal.

   The storm was accompanied by punishing winds.

Other Word Forms

• nonpunishing adjective
• self-punishing adjective
• unpunishing adjective
• unpunishingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of punishing¹

1425–75; late Middle English punyesand; punish, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Le Pen and Sarkozy say that judges, in punishing them with provisional sentences, have denied them due process.

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North Korean hackers have stolen billions of dollars from cryptocurrency exchanges, providing much-needed funds for a regime facing sanctions punishing Pyongyang for its nuclear program.

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Compare it with the way the self-described Tariff Man has gone from boasting about his power to upend global trade with punishing new duties to backing down as deadlines approach.

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After completing his own gym session he wanted to be out watching his team-mates go through their own punishing session.

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Instead of punishing a child’s desire to achieve, we will nurture it.

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Related Words

• brutal 
• grueling 
• punitive