punishment
/'pʌniʃmənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act or process of imposing a penalty on someone for an offense or wrongdoing: "Punishment" refers to the official or formal infliction of a consequence for breaking a rule or law.
- A penalty inflicted as a consequence of an offense: "Punishment" can also refer to the specific penalty itself, such as a fine, imprisonment, or other sanction.
Usage and Examples
As a noun (general act):
- The punishment for the crime was severe. (The penalty imposed for committing the crime was severe.)
- Many believe that capital punishment is a controversial practice. (Many believe the death penalty is a controversial practice.)
As a noun (specific penalty):
- He received a punishment of community service. (The specific penalty he received was community service.)
- The teacher's punishment was to write an essay. (The specific penalty from the teacher was to write an essay.)
Advanced Usage and Nuances
"To be a punishment": to be very difficult or unpleasant, often used hyperbolically.
- This traffic is a punishment. (This heavy traffic is very unpleasant, like a penalty.)
"To mete out punishment": to administer or dispense punishment formally.
- The judge will mete out punishment to the guilty party. (The judge will formally administer the penalty.)
Variants and Related Words
Punish (verb): to subject someone to a penalty for an offense.
- The system exists to punish criminals.
Punitive (adjective): inflicting or intended as punishment.
- The government imposed punitive tariffs.
Punisher (noun): one who punishes.
- He was seen as the punisher in the group.
Synonyms
- Penalty: A punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
- Sanction: A penalty for disobeying a law or rule, often used in official contexts.
- Discipline: Training that corrects, molds, or perfects, often involving punishment.
Related Phrases and Collocations
- Capital punishment: The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime (the death penalty).
- Corporal punishment: Physical punishment, such as caning or flogging.
- Cruel and unusual punishment: Punishment prohibited by the U.S. Constitution as being too severe or degrading.
Idioms and Figurative Use
"The punishment fits the crime": The penalty is appropriate and proportionate to the offense committed.
- A life sentence seems fair; the punishment fits the crime.
"Glutton for punishment": Someone who habitually takes on unpleasant or difficult tasks.
- He volunteered for the night shift again? He's a glutton for punishment.
Noun
- the act of punishing