Need another word for Punishing? Use these synonyms of Punishing from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
severe
harsh
stringent
rigorous
tough
brutal
cruel
merciless
unforgiving
relentless
merciless
unyielding
austere
stern
strict
demanding
exacting
grueling
exhausting
draining
debilitating
stifling
oppressive
repressive
restrictive
punitive
corrective
disciplinary
castigating
chastising
penalizing
reprimanding
scolding
censuring
condemnatory
disparaging
denunciatory
Meaning of Punishing
The primary meaning of "Punishing" is to give someone a punishment, especially as a penalty for a crime or for doing something wrong.
Definitions
- Causing someone to suffer as a penalty for something they have done, especially a crime
- * Severely criticizing or condemning someone or something
Etymology of Punishing
The word "Punishing" comes from the Old French word "puniss-", which is derived from the Latin word "punire", meaning to punish, and is related to the Latin word "poena", meaning penalty or punishment.
Example Uses
- The new policy is punishing small businesses with high taxes and strict regulations.
- * The coach gave the team a punishing practice session after their poor performance in the last game.
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
lenient
gentle
mild
moderate
soft
tolerant
forgiving
merciful
compassionate
kind
generous
liberal
permissive
lax
indulgent
pampering
sparing
relieving
mitigating
alleviating
soothing
comforting
conciliatory
placating
appeasing
exonerating
vindicating
absolving