C2adjectiveformallawcrime
US/ˈpjuː.nə.tɪv/
UK/ˈpjuː.nɪ.tɪv/
meant to punish; also so severe that it is very hard to pay or accept
In context
The court ordered the company to pay punitive damages to the victims.
Critics say the new immigration rules are unnecessarily punitive.
Punitive taxes on cigarettes have reduced smoking among teenagers.
Words that go with punitive
adjective + noun
- punitive damagesThe jury awarded millions in punitive damages.
- punitive measuresThe league threatened punitive measures against clubs that broke the rules.
- punitive actionNo punitive action was taken against the officers.
- punitive tariffsThe two countries placed punitive tariffs on each other's steel.
- punitive approachExperts say a punitive approach to drug use does not work.