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

Need another word that means the same as “punishing”? Find 9 synonyms and 30 related words for “punishing” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Punishing” are: arduous, backbreaking, grueling, gruelling, hard, heavy, laborious, operose, toilsome

Punishing as an Adjective

Definitions of "Punishing" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “punishing” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Severe and debilitating.
• Characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort.
• Physically and mentally demanding; arduous.

Synonyms of "Punishing" as an adjective (9 Words)

arduous	Taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance- F.D.Roosevelt. The arduous work of preparing a dictionary.
backbreaking	Characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort.
grueling	Characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort. A grueling campaign.
gruelling	Extremely tiring and demanding. A gruelling schedule.
hard	Unfortunate or hard to bear. He d had a hard life.
heavy	Large and powerful especially designed for heavy loads or rough work. Heavy casualties.
laborious	Requiring considerable time and effort. Spent many laborious hours on the project.
operose	Characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort.
toilsome	Involving hard or tedious work. Toilsome chores.

Usage Examples of "Punishing" as an adjective

• Set a punishing pace.
• The recession was having a punishing effect on our business.
• The band's punishing tour schedule.

Associations of "Punishing" (30 Words)

accuse	Charge (someone) with an offence or crime. He was accused of murdering his wife s lover.
angrily	In a manner resulting from or betraying anger. Workers reacted angrily to the announcement.
arraign	Call before a court to answer an indictment. Social workers were relieved it was not they who were arraigned in the tabloids.
berate	Scold or criticize (someone) angrily. She berated herself for being fickle.
bluntly	In a blunt direct manner. He spoke bluntly.
castigate	Censure severely. He was castigated for not setting a good example.
castigation	A severe scolding.
chasten	Restrain. The director was somewhat chastened by his recent flops.
chastise	Punish, especially by beating. The General cruelly chastised them with a whip.
chide	Censure severely or angrily. Now now he chided.
demotion	Act of lowering in rank or position. Too many demotions would weaken morale.
errant	Erring or straying from the accepted course or standards. That same lady errant.
impeach	(especially in the US) charge (the holder of a public office) with misconduct. The President was impeached.
indict	Accuse formally of a crime. His former manager was indicted for fraud.
indiscretion	The trait of being injudicious. He knew himself all too prone to indiscretion.
misdeed	A wicked or illegal act. His past misdeeds were forgiven.
offence	A feeling of anger caused by being offended. He made it clear he d taken offence.
penal	Subject to punishment by law. Penal institutions.
penalize	Subject to a penalty or punishment. The students were penalized for showing up late for class.
penalty	Points won by the defenders when a declarer fails to make the contract. Neglected his health and paid the penalty.
rebuke	An act or expression of criticism and censure. She had rebuked him for drinking too much.
reproof	An act or expression of criticism and censure. A look of reproof.
reprove	Take to task. Don t be childish Hilary he reproved mildly.
retribution	Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act. The swiftness of divine retribution.
scold	A person who nags or grumbles constantly (typically used of a woman. The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger s car.
spank	Give a spanking to subject to a spanking. When his father caught him he got a spank.
subdue	Get on top of; deal with successfully. Charles went on a campaign to subdue the Saxons.
trespass	Commit an offence against (a person or a set of rules. She really must not trespass on his hospitality.
upbraid	Express criticism towards. He was upbraided for his slovenly appearance.
violator	Someone who violates the law. A violator of nature.