1
as in fine
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penalty
The commission’s citations report shows PG&E has been hit with millions of fines over wildfires, but no apparent penalties related to substation maintenance issues.
—
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Bad decisions and bad penalties turned what could have been a great road trip into a so-so one in the Bruins’ trip finale in Seattle on Tuesday.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
There are no penalties in place for users or their families, but everyone in Australia who wants to use social media could have to submit to a fairly onerous series of age verifications—for instance, uploading a video selfie that will be analyzed by artificial intelligence.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
He’s also become one of the key figures on the NHL’s second-best penalty kill.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penalty
Noun
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Those who break the rules are hit with fines depending on the severity of the infraction.—
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Judge Steven Hippler sentenced Kohberger, 30, to four lifetimes in prison without parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students, plus 10 years for a burglary charge and $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.—
Noun
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The entrepreneur said there was a stunt double for Chalamet's behind; however, the actor insisted on taking the punishment himself.—
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Authorities imposed a sweeping internet blackout this week that largely cut the country off from the outside world and escalated threats of harsh punishment while anti-regime protests spread.—
Noun
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The Patriots have a clear kicking disadvantage in this one.—
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In some ways, The Pitt’s breakout first season put it at a disadvantage going into the second.—
Noun
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In 2025, 23 weather and climate events exceeded $1 billion in damages, costing a total of around $115 billion, according to an analysis released Thursday by the nonprofit organization Climate Central.—
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The United States experienced nearly two dozen billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2025, causing at least 276 fatalities and costing a total of $115 billion in damages.—
Noun
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The lingering fear of Jerry's wrath?—
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Voicer Jim Black is off to a good start and halfway there with the earliest biblical account of God’s wrath at humanity culminating with the great flood.—
Noun
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But some of her most brutal one-liners came at the expense of the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's celebrated One Battle After Another.—
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Grace plans to use any earnings from Quinn’s sale to cover expenses of his upkeep, such as grain and veterinary bills.—
Cite this Entry
“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penalty. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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