Synonyms for punish

verb

discipline, correct, chastise, chasten, castigate, penalize, sentence, train, reprove, scold, lecture, fine, incarcerate, imprison, immure, expel, execute, exile, behead, hang, electrocute, dismiss, disbar, disbench, defrock, whip, masthead, keelhaul, smite, spank, paddle, beat, thrash, trounce, flog, birch, switch, cuff, inflict penalty, visit punishment, blacklist, blackball, make an example of, give it to*, come down hard on*, attend to*, crack down on*, make it hot for*, pitch into*, give a dressing-down*, light into*, lick*, bring to book*, teach one a lesson*, lower the boom*, ground*, throw the book at*, give one one's comeuppance*, give what for*, fix*; see also banish 1, beat 2, censure, imprison, kill 1, scold.

punish implies the infliction of some penalty on a wrongdoer and generally connotes retribution rather than correction to punish a murderer by hanging; discipline suggests punishment that is intended to control or to establish habits of self-control to discipline a naughty child; correct suggests punishment for the purpose of overcoming faults to correct unruly pupils; chastise may imply severe rebuke or, more usually, corporal punishment and connotes both retribution and correction; castigate now implies punishment by severe public criticism or censure to castigate a corrupt official; chasten implies the infliction of tribulation in order to make obedient, meek, subdued, etc.""He chastens and hastens His will to make known'', a chastening experience

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