Synonyms of penalize
21 similar words
Another word for penalize is punish. Other synonyms of penalize are correct, penance, chastise and gruel.
Synonyms and similar words for penalize
verbTo subject to a penalty, especially for the infringement of a rule or regulation.
- chastiseTo punish, especially by corporal punishment.
- come down onTo punish or criticize (someone).
- amerceTo punish; to make an exaction.
- castigate formalTo punish or reprimand someone severely.
- correctTo discipline; to punish.
- fix someone's wagonTo cause injury, distress, or inconvenience to someone, especially as punishment or as a comeuppance.
- have someone's guts for gartersTo reprimand severely.
- have someone's head figurativelyTo punish someone severely, as by sacking (firing), imprisonment, or similarly harsh penalties.
- have someone's hide figurativelyTo punish or subdue someone.
- give it to someoneTo punish, criticize or verbally abuse someone.
- give someone what for slangTo punish; to rebuke.
- give what forTo scold; to punish, especially verbally.
- gruelTo punish.
- nail someone to the wallTo punish or discipline extremely harshly.
- penanceTo impose penance; to punish.
- punishTo cause (a child, student, or someone else being looked after, or a suspect or criminal) to suffer for crime or...
- tan someone's hide figurativelyTo beat or spank someone, usually on their backside.
- teach someone a lessonTo punish someone for a serious transgression they have committed so that they do not commit it again.
- chasten archaicTo chastize; to punish or reprimand for the sake of improvement.
- malavogue Ireland, datedTo punish or trounce.
- tar out dated, slangTo punish; to pay back or take revenge on.
Meaning of penalize
- verb To subject to a penalty, especially for the infringement of a rule or regulation.
- verb To impose a handicap on.
penalize in other languages
Questions about synonyms of penalize
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: penalize (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of penalize.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/penalize. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
