punish

Meanings

Verb

impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
- "we had to punish the dog for soiling the floor again"
To cause (a child, student, or someone else being looked after, or a suspect or criminal) to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action, typically by an authority or a person in authority (for example: a parent, teacher, or police officer).
To treat harshly and unfairly.
To handle or beat severely; to maul.
To consume a large quantity of.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English punischen, from Anglo-Norman, Old French puniss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of punir, from Latin puniō (“I inflict punishment upon”), from poena (“punishment, penalty”); see pain. Displaced Old English wītnian and (mostly, in this sense) wrecan.

Synonyms

castigate, mistreat, penalise, penalize

Scrabble Score: 11

punish is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
punish is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
punish is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

punish is a valid Words With Friends word