How to Use punitive in a Sentence

punitive

adjective
  • Lobbyists complain that the bill would impose punitive taxes on the industry.
  • The federal government will take punitive action against the company that polluted the river.
  • Those punitive policies need to end.
    — Jeffrey D. Klausner, STAT, 17 June 2026
  • The new lottery system is even more punitive to the worst teams.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • But the pressure isn’t punitive.
    — Shaw Walters, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Lago said the city’s approach is not meant to be punitive.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
  • These deaths must force us to focus less on punitive actions and more on what saves lives.
    — Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
  • But to do so now would be punitive and feel good to many Dolfans, that’s all.
    — Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Not in a punitive or disciplinary way, though.
    — Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Trump is known for taking punitive action.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The decision to do so only on punitive terms is one that can and should be changed.
    — Mark Engler, The New Republic, 20 Nov. 2020
  • That may take some of the punitive bite from the Western sanctions.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN, 2 Mar. 2022
  • The failure-to-pay penalty is less punitive than the one for failing to file.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2022
  • In a punitive culture, teams walk on eggshells to avoid making mistakes.
    — John Hall, Forbes, 6 June 2021
  • Newsom’s order opened the door for more punitive actions across the state.
    — Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2024
  • Yes, there is room to increase taxes on the rich, but punitive taxes can harm growth.
    — Allison Schrager, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
  • But the program isn't punitive, and these case managers aren't there to remove a child.
    — Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2021
  • The same person that says this is daycare, games, goofing around, not punitive enough.
    — Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
  • There’s more work to do on SSI’s punitive asset cap.
    — Michael Frerichs, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The process is not punitive and not designed to shame those facing a criminal charge.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Barring you from the house is a serious case of punitive excess.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
  • Whether his actions will in some way quell the calls for punitive action to be taken against him is unclear.
    — Peter Marks, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Apr. 2021
  • None are proper analogues, for all derived their punitive power from the state.
    — New York Times, 3 Dec. 2020
  • Swift, punitive strikes are meant to deliver results without boots on the ground.
    — Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
  • But the punitive award wasn’t the highest Bellis could have imposed.
    — Laurel Calkins, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have reignited with tit-for-tat punitive measures.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Doing that is not aggressive or punitive.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • And consequences shouldn’t be punitive.
    — Krista Spurgin, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The Broncos’ opening stretch seems punitive.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
  • This drama could hardly have played out in a worse place; the city has endured some of the world's most punitive lockdowns.
    — Stephen Collinson, CNN, 11 Jan. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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