PENALTY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PENALTY?

Need another word that means the same as “penalty”? Find 14 synonyms and 30 related words for “penalty” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Penalty” are: penalisation, penalization, punishment, sanction, retribution, penance, disadvantage, difficulty, drawback, handicap, snag, downside, minus, detriment

Penalty as a Noun

Definitions of "Penalty" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “penalty” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
• The disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or condition.
• The act of punishing.
• (games) a handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the game.
• A payment required for not fulfilling a contract.
• A handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the game.
• A kick or shot awarded to a team because of an infringement of the rules by an opponent.
• (in sports and games) a handicap imposed on a player or team for infringement of rules.
• A disadvantage suffered as the result of an action or situation.
• Points won by the defenders when a declarer fails to make the contract.

Synonyms of "Penalty" as a noun (14 Words)

detriment	A damage or loss. Such tests are a detriment to good education.
difficulty	A thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand. They agreed about the difficulty of the climb.
disadvantage	An unfavourable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness. A major disadvantage is the limited nature of the data.
downside	A negative aspect of something that is generally positive. There is a downside even to motherhood.
drawback	An amount of excise or import duty remitted on goods exported. He pointed out all the drawbacks to my plan.
handicap	A race or contest in which a handicap is imposed. He was born with a significant visual handicap.
minus	A disadvantage. Four minus three equals one.
penalisation	The act of punishing.
penalization	The act of punishing.
penance	Voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing. He had done public penance for those hasty words.
punishment	A penalty inflicted as retribution for an offence. She assisted her husband to escape punishment for the crime.
retribution	Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act. Divine retribution.
sanction	Measures taken by a state to coerce another to conform to an international agreement or norms of conduct, typically in the form of restrictions on trade or official sporting participation. The United States had agreed to lift economic sanctions.
snag	A rent or tear in fabric caused by a snag. Dozens of species of birds and mammals use standing snags for nesting.

Usage Examples of "Penalty" as a noun

• A penalty corner.
• The charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment.
• The cold never leaves my bones these days—one of the penalties of age.
• She only incurred 6.40 penalties for time on cross-country.
• Neglected his health and paid the penalty.

Associations of "Penalty" (30 Words)

abeyance	Temporary cessation or suspension. Matters were held in abeyance pending further enquiries.
accuse	Claim that (someone) has done something wrong. He was accused of murdering his wife s lover.
berate	Scold or criticize (someone) angrily. She berated herself for being fickle.
castigate	Inflict severe punishment on. He was castigated for not setting a good example.
castigation	A severe scolding.
chasten	Censure severely. The director was somewhat chastened by his recent flops.
chastise	Censure severely. He chastised his colleagues for their laziness.
comeuppance	An outcome (good or bad) that is well deserved and fitting. He got his comeuppance in the end.
demotion	Act of lowering in rank or position. She could remain on the staff if she accepted demotion to ordinary lecturer.
disciplinary	Concerning or enforcing discipline. A soldier will face disciplinary action after going absent without leave.
errant	Travelling in search of adventure. That same lady errant.
felony	A crime regarded in the US and many other judicial systems as more serious than a misdemeanour. An accusation of felony.
gibbet	Hang up a body on a gibbet. Poor Melbourne is gibbeted in The Times.
misbehavior	Improper or wicked or immoral behavior.
misdeed	Improper or wicked or immoral behavior. His past misdeeds were forgiven.
penal	(of an act or offence) punishable by law. The campaign for penal reform.
penalize	Impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on. Section twenty penalizes possession of a firearm when trespassing.
punish	Impose a penalty on inflict punishment on. I have done wrong and I m being punished for it.
punitive	Inflicting or intended as punishment. A current punitive interest rate of 31 3 per cent.
rebuke	An act or expression of criticism and censure. The judge publicly rebuked the jury.
reprimand	Address a reprimand to. Officials were reprimanded for poor work.
reproof	Censure severely or angrily. She welcomed him with a mild reproof for leaving her alone.
retribution	The act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life. Minos threatened war against Athens in retribution for his son s death.
retributive	Given or inflicted in requital according to merits or deserts. Retributive justice.
scold	Someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault. His mother was the village scold.
spank	Give a spanking to subject to a spanking. She was spanked for spilling ink on the carpet.
subdue	Bring under control by force or authority. Charles went on a campaign to subdue the Saxons.
suspension	Temporary cessation or suspension. Modifications have been made to the car s rear suspension.
vindicatory	Given or inflicted in requital according to merits or deserts.
violator	Someone who assaults others sexually. Monica is able to name the violators of her body.