punitive
adj.adj. intended to punish someone or something. It often describes very high costs or strict rules that feel like a penalty.
adj. inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment. Often describes financial measures or legal actions intended to deter specific behaviors through harsh consequences.
The government imposed punitive taxes on tobacco products.
The court awarded punitive damages to the plaintiff to ensure the company would never repeat its negligent actions.
While the initial sanctions were intended as a diplomatic warning, the subsequent measures were purely punitive, designed to cripple the nation's industrial capacity and force a total surrender.
From Middle French punitif, from Medieval Latin pūnitīvus, from pūniō (“I punish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly modifies nouns like 'damages', 'measures', 'taxes', or 'action'.
Last updated May 6, 2026