| English Dictionary |
PUNITIVE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does punitive mean?
• PUNITIVE (adjective)
The adjective PUNITIVE has 1 sense:
1. inflicting punishment
Familiarity information: PUNITIVE used as an adjective is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Inflicting punishment
Synonyms:
punitive; punitory
Context example:
punitive damages
Similar:
correctional (concerned with or providing correction)
penal (serving as or designed to impose punishment)
penitentiary (used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers)
retaliative; retaliatory; retributive; retributory; vindicatory (of or relating to or having the nature of retribution)
Antonym:
rehabilitative (designed to accomplish rehabilitation)
Derivation:
punish (impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"That which does not kill you, makes you stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"Advice sharpens a rusty opinion." (Arabic proverb)
"Away from the eye, out of the heart." (Dutch proverb)