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punitive
[ pyoo-ni-tiv ]
adjective
- serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment:
punitive laws; punitive action.
punitive
/ ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ; ˈpjuːnɪtɪv; -trɪ /
adjective
- relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment
a punitive expedition
Derived Forms
- ˈpunitiveness, noun
- ˈpunitively, adverb
Other Words From
- puni·tive·ly adverb
- puni·tive·ness noun
- non·puni·tive adjective
- non·puni·tory adjective
- self-puni·tive adjective
- semi·puni·tive adjective
- semi·puni·tory adjective
- un·puni·tive adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of punitive1
Example Sentences
This concern ceased after the Spanish warned of severe punitive measures on the family members of suicides.
Punitive measures could also be brought by the Security Council, but only with the backing of Russia and China.
What we are saying to councils, who have powers to impose punitive council taxes on such people, is do so.
Even normally eager-to-talk sources have gone to ground, unsure how punitive the military might be in its actions against critics.
Even if they succeed, families can win only actual and not punitive damages from the federal government.
Punitive expeditions are not organised in the event of slight fevers or even serious illness—only when the patient dies.
"It's the perfect punitive world," Uncle Ingemar said proudly.
Almost p 285every month there are punitive raids made from the towns, and brigands are captured and put to death.
A punitive expedition, led by the same officer, afterward met with some success, but American popularity suffered in consequence.
Suffering is not always punitive; it is sometimes disciplinary, designed to wean the good man from his sin.
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