english
1
general::
verb
discipline:
We must punish thieves.
Simple Definitions
2
general::
verb ADV. severely | justifiably, justly | unfairly | accordingly, duly Those who had opposed the court were duly punished. VERB + PUNISH want to | try to He was trying to punish her for deserting him all those years ago. | be designed to Damages are not designed to punish the person in breach, but to compensate for the loss sustained. PREP. by Never punish children by making them go hungry. | for They will be severely punished for their crimes. | with Offenders will be punished with a £1,000 fine.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
punish
to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something wrong or broken the law:
• Drug smugglers are severely punished. • She wanted to punish him for deceiving her.
fine
to make someone pay money as a punishment:
• The company was fined for safety violations.
sentence
if a judge sentences a criminal, he or she gives them an official punishment, usually sending them to prison for a period of time:
• The judge sentenced Margolis to a year in prison.
penalize
( also penalise British English ) to officially punish someone, especially by taking away their right to do something or by limiting their freedom in some way:
• New laws will penalize firms that continue to pollute the environment.
discipline
to punish someone who has broken the rules of an organization that they belong to or work for:
• Officers are expected to discipline soldiers who do not keep their uniforms in good condition.
come down hard on somebody
informal to punish someone or criticize them severely:
• The judge came down hard on Harris, saying that his crime was ‘inexcusable’.
make an example of somebody
to punish someone so that other people are afraid to do the same thing:
• Athletics officials felt they had to make an example of him for using banned drugs.
teach somebody a lesson
informal to do something in order to show someone that they must not do something again, when they have behaved very badly:
• I didn't want to hurt him - I just wanted teach him a lesson. • Maybe a night in jail will teach him a lesson.
make somebody pay (for something)
informal to make someone wish they had never done something, by making them suffer:
• We should make him pay for all the mischief he's caused!
Longman-Thesaurus