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Meaning of punitive
The primary meaning of "punitive" is related to punishment.
Etymology of punitive
The word "punitive" has its roots in the Latin "punire," which means to punish, and the suffix "-ive," which forms an adjective indicating a tendency or function
Historically, the term has been used in English since the 15th century to describe actions, measures, or attitudes aimed at punishing or penalizing individuals or groups for their wrongdoing or misbehavior
Synonyms
penal
disciplinary
corrective
castigatory
chastening
retaliatory
retributive
vindictive
vengeful
revengeful
penalizing
punishing
disciplinary
chastising
scolding
admonitory
cautionary
exemplary
warning
daunting
intimidating
threatening
frightening
daunting
dissuasive
prohibitive
restrictive
coercive
compulsive
mandatory
obligatory
binding
prescriptive
proscriptive
condemnatory
denunciatory
disapprobatory
reproachful
deprecatory
objurgatory
expiatory
atonemental
propitiatory
conciliatory
placatory
appeasing
mollifying
pacifying
soothing
mitigating
alleviating
moderating
assuaging
allaying
comforting
solacing
conciliating
propitiating
atoning
expiating
redressing
rectifying
reformative
rehabilitative
restorative
compensatory
recompensatory
indemnifying
reparative
restitutional
vindicatory
justificatory
explanatory
exculpatory
extenuating
palliative
mitigative
moderative
assuasive
comforting
reassuring
calming
tranquilizing
soothing
pacific
appeasable
placable
conciliable
mollifiable
pacifiable
assuageable
mitigable
moderable
alleviable
solaceable
comfortive
solacing
redressive
rectificatory
reforming
correcting
amending
bettering
improving
perfecting
refining
polishing
cultivating
developing
advancing
progressing
maturing
ripening
mellowing
tempering
humanizing
civilizing
socializing
educating
instructing
enlightening
edifying
guiding
directing
regulating
controlling
governing
administering
managing
supervising
overseeing
presiding
ruling
dominating
commanding
controlling
coercing
compelling
obliging
binding
constraining
restricting
limiting
confining
circumscribing
defining
determining
deciding
adjudicating
arbitrating
mediating
negotiating
reconciling
settling
composing
adjusting
regulating
adjusting
tempering
moderating
mitigating
alleviating
assuaging
allaying
comforting
solacing
conciliating
propitiating
atoning
expiating
redressing
rectifying
reforming
rehabilitating
restoring
compensating
recompensing
indemnifying
repairing
restituting
vindicating
justifying
explaining
exculpating
extenuating
palliating
mitigating
moderating
assuaging
comforting
reassuring
calming
tranquilizing
soothing
pacifying
appeasing
mollifying
solacing
comforting
conciliating
propitiating
atoning
expiating
redressing
rectifying
reforming
rehabilitating
restoring
compensating
recompensing
indemnifying
repairing
restituting
vindicating
justifying
explaining
exculpating
extenuating
palliating
Definitions
- Relating to or intended to inflict punishment, especially in a severe or exemplary manner
- Serving as or intended to be a punishment or penalty
- Having the nature of or intended to have the effect of punishment or penalty
Usage Examples
- The court imposed a punitive sentence on the defendant for their role in the crime
- The company faced punitive damages for violating environmental regulations
- The teacher's punitive approach to discipline was criticized by parents and students alike
Antonyms
reparative
restorative
compensatory
recompensatory
indemnifying
reparative
restitutional
vindicatory
justificatory
explanatory
exculpatory
extenuating
palliative
mitigative
moderative
assuasive
comforting
reassuring
calming
tranquilizing
soothing
pacifying
appeasing
mollifying
solacing
conciliating
propitiating
atoning
expiating
redressive
rectificatory
reforming
correcting
amending
bettering
improving
perfecting
refining
polishing
cultivating
developing
advancing
progressing
maturing
ripening
mellowing