Meaning & use
punitive
Intended to punish, or inflicting punishment that is often harsher than what seems strictly necessary.
See it in a sentence
The court awarded punitive damages to discourage the company from repeating its negligence.
Critics argued that the new tariffs were punitive rather than a fair trade measure.
A note on using this word
Punitive damages, in law, are meant to punish and deter wrongdoing, unlike compensatory damages, which simply cover actual losses.
Words with a similar meaning
retributivepenal
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
rewardinglenient
Make it your own
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