punishment
gb/pˈʌnɪʃmənt/ us/pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
B1
Inglês
~ 7800
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
B1
action
1
the act of punishing someone
The act of making someone suffer because they did something wrong or broke a rule.
Padrão de uso:
the punishment of [someone] for [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "punishment" with "crime" and say *"He did a punishment"* when they mean *"He did a crime"*. "Punishment" is what happens to someone BECAUSE of a crime or bad action, not the bad action itself.
Sinónimos
discipline (Often used for teaching correct behavior, especially with children, and can sound less severe than punishment.)
Antónimos
forgiveness (Choosing not to punish someone even though they did something wrong.)
Colocações
the use of punishment
|form of punishment
|harsh punishment
|physical punishment
|administer punishment
|oppose punishment
Temas
law
|family
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Many parents now prefer guidance and rewards over punishment.
- The report questions whether punishment really stops young people from reoffending.
- He argued that public humiliation is not an acceptable form of punishment in schools.
- Some religious traditions emphasize mercy rather than punishment.
- The prison system focuses more on punishment than on rehabilitation.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The teacher does not believe in punishment in the classroom.
- Some people think strong punishment will stop crime.
- Her parents used punishment when she broke the rules.
- The group talked about punishment and forgiveness.
- They argued about the best kind of punishment for children.
Nome
B1
entity
2
the penalty given for wrongdoing
The bad thing that is given to someone because they did something wrong, such as a fine, extra work, or time in prison.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] receive [punishment] for [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes say *"strong punishment"* when they mean *"severe punishment"* or *"harsh punishment"*. In this context, "severe" and "harsh" are the most natural adjectives to describe a very bad or heavy punishment.
Sinónimos
penalty (Very close in meaning; often used in legal, financial, or sports contexts for the specific negative consequence.)
Antónimos
reward (A positive thing given for good behavior, the opposite of a negative thing given for bad behavior.)
Colocações
severe punishment
|receive punishment
|face punishment
|escape punishment
|deserve punishment
|the punishment fits the crime
Temas
law
|justice
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- His punishment for driving drunk was a six‑month ban from driving.
- The court decided that the punishment was too harsh and reduced his sentence.
- Students know that the usual punishment for cheating is failing the exam.
- They called for tougher punishment for companies that pollute the river.
- She accepted the punishment without complaining.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The punishment for stealing was one year in jail.
- If you break the rules, there will be a punishment.
- His parents gave him a light punishment this time.
- She thinks the punishment does not match the crime.
- He got no punishment because it was his first mistake.
Nome
informal
B2
state
3
heavy physical damage or strain
Strong physical damage or stress to a body or thing, usually happening again and again.
Padrão de uso:
[someone]/[something] take a lot of punishment
Erro comum:
Learners may think this meaning is about legal or school punishment, but here it is about physical damage or stress to bodies or things. It is often used with verbs like "take" or "absorb" rather than "get".
Sinónimos
abuse (Suggests rough or harmful treatment; can be stronger and more negative, especially with people or animals.)
Antónimos
protection (Keeping someone or something safe from harm or damage rather than exposing it to punishment.)
Colocações
take a lot of punishment
|absorb punishment
|withstand punishment
|subject to punishment
|put [something] through punishment
|handle a lot of punishment
Temas
sports
|health
|objects
|body
Exemplos
- The boxer’s body has taken a lot of punishment over the years.
- These boots are designed to handle serious punishment on rocky trails.
- His old laptop has endured years of punishment and still works fine.
- The road surface takes constant punishment from heavy trucks.
- Her knees couldn’t take any more punishment from long‑distance running.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- This backpack can take a lot of punishment.
- His legs took a lot of punishment during the long race.
- The old car has survived years of punishment.
- My phone gets daily punishment but still works.
- Their house takes heavy punishment from winter storms.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
punishment
IPA
GB/pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
US/pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
Sílabas e acento
pun - ish - ment (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (pun)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: punishment
- Plural: punishment, punishments
Família de palavras
Forms
punishments
noun
Core family
punish
verb B1
punishable
adjective
Related words
punitive
adjective C1
punisher
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unpunished
adjective
impunity
noun C1
Advanced or less common
punitively
adverb C1
punitiveness
noun
Expressões
a glutton for punishment
1/ə ɡlˈʌtən fɚ pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
idiom
informal
person who keeps choosing hard tasks
Someone who keeps doing very hard or unpleasant things, even though most people would avoid them.
Exemplos
- You’re a real glutton for punishment, taking on another big project.
- Only a glutton for punishment would run three marathons in a year.
- She signed up for extra classes again—she’s such a glutton for punishment.
cruel and unusual punishment
1/kɹˈul ˈænd ʌnjˈuʒuəl pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
extremely harsh, unacceptable punishment
Punishment that is too harsh or strange and is not accepted by modern law, especially in human‑rights discussions.
Exemplos
- The lawyers argued that the sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.
- Some activists say long periods of solitary confinement are cruel and unusual punishment.
- The constitution bans cruel and unusual punishment.
punishment beating
1/pˈʌnɪʃmənt bˈitɪŋ/
fixed phrase
beating used as a penalty
A serious, often illegal beating given to someone as a way to punish them.
Exemplos
- The gang carried out a punishment beating on the suspected thief.
- Police are investigating a brutal punishment beating in the area.
the punishment fits the crime
1/ðə pˈʌnɪʃmənt fˈɪts ðə kɹˈaɪm/
idiom
punishment matches the crime’s seriousness
Used when the punishment is not too hard or too easy, but is about right for the bad thing that was done.
Exemplos
- In this case, I think the punishment fits the crime.
- Some people felt that the punishment didn’t fit the crime.
- He argued that the punishment should fit the crime, not public anger.
capital punishment
1/kˈæpɪtəl pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
Death penalty as legal punishment
When the law says a person must die as punishment for a serious crime.
Exemplos
- Many countries have abolished capital punishment.
- The case reignited debate over the use of capital punishment.
- The debate over capital punishment remains highly emotional.
- He is strongly opposed to capital punishment on moral grounds.
collective punishment
1/kəlˈɛktɪv pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
punishment of a whole group
Punishment that is given to many people together, even if only some of them did something wrong.
Exemplos
- Human‑rights groups condemned the policy as collective punishment.
- Collective punishment of civilians is banned under international law.
- They argued that closing the whole school was unfair collective punishment.
collective punishment
2/kəlˈɛktɪv pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
punishing a whole group for some
Punishing a whole group of people for what only some people in the group did.
Exemplos
- International law generally forbids collective punishment of civilian populations.
- Shutting down the whole school for one class’s mistake felt like collective punishment.
- Human rights groups condemned the policy as a form of collective punishment.
corporal punishment
1/kˈɔɹpɚəl pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
physical punishment to the body
Punishment that uses physical force and causes pain to a person’s body, for example hitting or spanking.
Exemplos
- Most schools now ban corporal punishment.
- Many countries have banned corporal punishment of children in schools.
- The law strictly forbids corporal punishment of prisoners.
- The report calls for an end to all forms of corporal punishment in the home.
- Parents are divided over whether corporal punishment is ever acceptable.
- Supporters of corporal punishment argue that it can be an effective deterrent, while critics say it is abusive.