<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>to subject to pain, loss, confinement, death, etc., as a penalty for some offense, transgression, or fault: The goal of the court is to punish the criminal for the crime he has committed.</li><li>Synonyms: penalize, discipline, castigate, chastise</li><li>Antonyms: reward</li><li>to inflict a penalty for (an offense, fault, etc.): Unconditional imprisonment is imposed to punish past transgressions.</li><li>Synonyms: penalize</li><li>Antonyms: reward</li><li>to mistreat, abuse, or hurt: Additional tariffs will punish working families with higher prices on household basics.</li><li>to handle severely or roughly, as in a fight.</li><li>to put to painful exertion, as a horse in racing.</li><li>Informal: to make a heavy inroad on; deplete: to punish a quart of whiskey.</li></ul>