Synonyms of punishment
11 similar words · 8 opposite words
Another word for punishment is sentence. Other synonyms of punishment are penalty, correction, sanction, discipline and chastisement. The opposite of punishment is reward.
Synonyms and similar words for punishment
nounThe act (action) or process of punishing, imposing and/or applying a sanction, typically by an...
- castigationCorrective punishment; chastisement; reproof.
- disciplineA punishment to train or maintain control.
- punitionPunishment.
nounA penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.
- sanctionA penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several...
- censureA judicial or ecclesiastical sentence or reprimand; condemnatory judgment.
- correctionPunishment that is intended to rehabilitate an offender.
- penaltyA punishment for violating rules of procedure.
- sentenceThe judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime.
nounMore synonyms
- chasteningThe act by which somebody is chastened.
- chastisementThe act of chastising; rebuke; punishment.
- gruelPunishment.
Opposite of punishment
nounA penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.
- rewardSomething of value given in return for an act.
- acknowledgment
- guerdon literaryA reward, prize or recompense for a service; an accolade.
- payback
- recompense
- remuneration
- meed archaic, literary
- reguerdon obsoleteA recompense or reward.
Meaning of punishment
- noun The act (action) or process of punishing, imposing and/or applying a sanction, typically by an authority or a person in authority (for example: a parent or teacher), especially when disappointed or dissatisfied with the behavior or actions of a child, student, or someone else being looked after.
- noun A penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.
- noun A suffering by pain or loss imposed as retribution.
punishment in other languages
Questions about synonyms of punishment
- What is another word for punishment?
- Punishment has 11 synonyms on Word.ws, such as sentence, penalty, correction, sanction, discipline, chastisement, chastening and gruel.
- What is the opposite of punishment?
- The opposite of punishment is reward.
- What does punishment mean?
- Punishment means the act (action) or process of punishing, imposing and/or applying a sanction, typically by an authority or a person in authority (for example: a parent or teacher), especially when disappointed or dissatisfied with the behavior or actions of a child, student, or someone else being looked after.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: punishment (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 punishment.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/punishment. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.