punitive damages

plural noun

Synonyms of punitive damagesnext
: damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong

Examples of punitive damages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 In addition, the jury found the two deputies acted with reckless disregard and awarded $10 million in punitive damages. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 The following June, a federal judge ordered Allen to pay Jane Doe 2 $1,790,541 in compensatory and punitive damages. — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Victims can seek compensatory damages for actual losses, but not punitive damages. — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punitive damages

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of punitive damages was in 1858

Browse Nearby Words

punitive
punitive damages
punitory
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Cite this Entry

“Punitive damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive%20damages. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

punitive damages

see also:
damage sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on punitive damages

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for punitive damages

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