punitive
C2
adj
Freq #27894
Meanings
-
1
adj
inflicting punishment
punitive justice
-
2
adj
Inflicting punishment; punishing.
Beijing imposed punitive sanctions on Canada.
Etymology
From Middle French punitif, from Medieval Latin pūnitīvus, from pūniō (“to punish”).
View etymology graph →Thesaurus
Synonyms
1
adj
· inflicting punishment
punitory
2
adj
· inflicting punishment;...
castigatorypunishmentalpunitivepunitoryvindicatoryvindictive
Opposites
nonpunitiveunpunitive