# penalized

/ˈpinəˌɫaɪzd/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/penalized
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

feeling like you are being punished or treated unfairly because of a rule or a situation.

For teachers: subjected to a penalty or disadvantage; experiencing a negative consequence due to a specific action or condition. Often used to describe a state of being at a systematic disadvantage.

## Examples

- I felt penalized by the new rules at work.
- Small businesses often feel penalized by complex tax laws that are easier for large corporations to manage.
- The athlete felt unfairly penalized by the committee's decision to strip her of the medal, arguing that the substance found in her system was part of a prescribed medication.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The referee penalized to the player." but "The referee penalized the player." — When used as a verb, it is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'feel', 'seem', or 'be'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.