punishes;
punished;
punishing
punishes;
punished;
punishing
Britannica Dictionary definition of PUNISH
[+ object]
1
a
:
to make (someone) suffer for a crime or for bad behavior
-
I think that murderers should be punished by/with life imprisonment.
-
She was punished for lying.
-
His parents punished him by taking away his allowance.
b
:
to make someone suffer for (a crime or bad behavior)
-
How should I punish my child's misbehavior?
-
State law punishes fraud with fines.
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The law states that treason shall be punished by death. [=that the punishment for treason is death]
2
:
to treat (someone or something) severely or roughly