ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unpunished

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ənˈpənɪʃt// UK //ʌnpˈʌnɪʃt// un·pun·ished

adj. not being punished for a crime or a mistake. You use this to describe someone who did something wrong but did not face any consequences.

adj. not subjected to a penalty or retribution for an offence or error. Often used to describe a state of impunity or a lack of legal consequence.


SIMPLE

The thief escaped and remained unpunished.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness felt that the guilty party would remain unpunished if the evidence was not found.

COMPLEX

In some historical contexts, certain crimes were considered unpunished by the state, leading to a culture of impunity that eventually sparked significant social unrest.

Antonyms
Origin

From un- + punished.

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