punitive

Word family

pu·ni·tive /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ adjectiveadj [usually before noun]

1 PUNISHintended to punish someone 懲罰性的

punitive action/measures etc

The agency sent a letter, but took no punitive action.

經辦處寄了一封信，不過沒有采取懲罰行動。

The jury awarded punitive damages (=money paid to someone who is the victim of a crime).

陪審團判定支付損害賠償金。

The government is expected to take punitive steps against offenders.

政府應該對罪犯采取懲罰措施。

2 punitive taxes/price increases etc STRICTtaxes etc that are so high that it is difficult for people to pay them 重稅/價格急劇上漲等

The US could impose punitive tariffs on exports.

美國可能對出口産品征以高額關稅。

Examples from the Corpus

punitive tariffs• He described the prospect of punitive tariffs as sad.• Officials said the administration will announce May 15 what products will be subject to punitive tariffs of 100 percent.

Examples from the Corpus

punitive• But far too many listen only rarely to their children and have little to say to them that is not punitive.• Government forces immediately took punitive action against the rebels.• The president, however, can issue waivers to prevent punitive actions.• New students were aware of 1987's punitive assignments.• However, he said that the punitive award to the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson might be more vulnerable.• His kiss was an assault, punitive, compelling her lips to part, robbing her of breath.• The company was ordered to pay punitive damages in a sex discrimination case.• As Baker repeatedly told jurors, the intent of punitive damages is to punish, not destroy.• He was awarded $ 335,000 in compensatory damages and $ 300,617 in punitive damages.• Such punitive gestures fulfilled the important function of maintaining mechanical solidarity at the requisite pitch.• The sanctions were a punitive measure used to try to force South Africa to reject apartheid.• punitive taxes

punitive action/measures etc• But the real issue may be how long Baghdad can forestall what increasingly appears to be inevitable punitive action.• Once again, the agency sent a strongly worded warning letter, but took no punitive action.• The president, however, can issue waivers to prevent punitive actions.• The government, however, had only just begun their punitive measures against excessive liberalism.• But punitive measures-oh yes.• Its proposed abolition and replacement with more punitive measures would further criminalise travellers for their way of life.

From Longman Business Dictionary

punitivepu·ni·tive /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ adjectiveadj

1intended to punish someone

The court can impose punitive measures.

2TAXpunitive taxes, price increases etc are very high and it is difficult for people to pay them

Punitive taxes on energy are likely to hurt many small businesses.

Origin punitive

(1600-1700) French punitif, from Medieval Latin punitivus, from Latin punire; → PUNISH

pu·ni·tive adjectiveadj

Syllable

Corpus